Making her pitch
BUTLER TWP — Youngstown State wasn’t exactly looking for a pitcher. Kelsey Ogin shifted that point of view.
Butler’s senior softball pitcher recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and softball career with the Penguins. She posted a 2.00 earned run average in the circle and hit over .300 at the plate for the Golden Tornado last spring.
“Kelsey has good control of her pitches,” Butler coach Cait Baxter said. “She hits her spots extremely well. And her fastball hit around 65 miles per hour. It’s hard for hitters to square her up.”
Kara Stroup joined the Golden Tornado coaching staff last year and coaches Team Pa. during the summer. Ogin pitched for her team last summer.
“Youngstown State was not looking for a 2024 pitcher,” Stroup said. “But when I first saw Kelsey pitch, I saw a girl with a lot of talent. She improved quite a bit in the past year.
“She improved enough that YSU changed its mind and took her on. They recognize she’s going to be a good one.”
Ogin also considered Monmouth and Robert Morris before deciding on Youngstown State. She plans to major in Allied Health.
The Penguins are coming off a 27-27 season last spring, 12-10 in Horizon League play. The two years before that, YSU was a combined 45-17 in conference play, losing the Horizon League title game in 2021.
“I like competition and they play in a good league,” Ogin said. "I love the campus and the coaching staff there, too. I know it’s a place where I can grow as a player.“
Brian Campbell has been softball coach at YSU for 16 years. He’s won 354 games there and has 639 collegiate softball wins in his coaching career, including a lengthy stint at Tiffin. He’s coached 37 All-Horizon League players and won the league’s Coach of the Year Award in 2012 and 2021.
“My goal is to get better there each season, then peak in my senior year” Ogin said. “My last year in high school (spring of 2024), I want to win more games.”
The Tornado were 2-16-1 last season and have struggled in recent years. Yet Ogin has continued to stand out as a pitcher and hitter.
“She was our No. 4 hitters past year and will likely be in that position again,” Baxter said. “Kelsey can drive the ball. All she needs to do is work on her consistency.
“Every player wants to crack the starting lineup as a freshman. Kelsey will have the chance to do that. She’s got the ability to play for them right away and flourish as a pitcher and hitter.”
The Penguins have five pitchers on their roster now — two seniors, a junior and two freshmen.
Stroup said Ogin’s work with Team Pa. pitching coach Jana Hudson has helped her with mechanics.
“Kelsey was shut down toward the end of last season with a sore shoulder,” Stroup said. “We’ve been working on lowering her pitch count. She was very effective that way during the summer.”
Ogin sees two words as the key to her success moving forward.
“Accuracy while pitching, consistency at the plate,” she said. “I know I have plenty of room to get better.”
