Kosanke stands out in college debut

Despite scholarship offers from several NAIA and NCAA Division II schools, Outlaws softball standout Dara Kosanke did not get the Division I scholarship call she wanted. But that has not dampened the goal of playing at college's highest level.

Kosanke began her college career September 25 at Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), where she will pitch and play outfield. Her goal remains to be playing D-1 within in two years.

She picked up where she left off as an Outlaw. In three games, Kosanke was 2-0 on the mound, recording 13 strikeouts in 12 innings, allowing only three base hits and no earned runs. She also collected seven hits in eight at-bats, scored four runs and stole three bases. WWCC was 2-1 in the 24-team tournament. She played right field when not pitching.

She followed that weekend by leading the Lady Warriors to a 3-0 record October 2 by collecting nine hits in nine at-bats, picking up a victory and earning a save in another. Thus, Kosanke has started her college career by reaching base in each of her first 20 at-bats. She is 16 for 17 (reaching on an error) and has received a trio of base-on-balls.

WWCC's fall season ends in mid-October.

"It feels good (here)," said Kosanke about her decision to attend WWCC. "It's only been three weeks, but I'm enjoying it a great deal."

WWCC might not have started out as Kosanke's first choice. That would have been a D-1 scholarship. The recruiting process, which started last fall, ended in mid-June with her choosing WWCC.

"I met some terrific people in the recruiting process and no doubt would have enjoyed being a part of many of the colleges I visited, but my goal has always been to play D-1," said Kosanke, the Sky-Em League's Player of the Year in 2010. "If I chose one of the other (non-D-1) schools, the opportunity to play D-1 would be closed."

Kosanke knows the process in reaching her goal is to improve, get noticed and make the most of her collegiate opportunity.

Most high-priority colleges sign their players in the fall prior to the season. Kosanke played only her senior season at Sisters after playing her first three seasons at Redmond High School.

"Dara didn't get the exposure she needed to grab the attention of D-1 coaches," said former Outlaws coach Tom Mauldin, who coached the Outlaws in 2010. "I guess you would say she was late getting noticed. Most D-1 schools are signing a year out."

The lack of offers from D-1 schools illustrates the difficulty athletes from small schools, such as Sisters, have even being noticed by D-1 colleges.

Marist's coach Bob Hammitt thinks it's just a matter of time before Kosanke is noticed on a wider scale.

"She IS a player," he said. "I really like her game."

"She's a complete package," said Mauldin. "She's below 2.7 seconds from home to first, she consistently throws five pitches 60 miles per hour or faster and she's a smart player."

At Walla Walla, Kosanke will play for Mike Staudenmaier, who has guided the Warriors to 382 wins and 236 losses in 14 seasons. He was the 2000 National Coach of the Year.

"Dara has a lot of potential, said Staudenmaier. "Dara is a competitor and a great kid. That is why I really recruited her hard. She's going to fit in right away. As she adjusts to the college game, she's only going to get better."