At the hot corner, Dunn has helped Karns City softball win
KARNS CITY — When it comes to softball, Mackenzie Dunn knows one thing.
Winning.
The Karns City senior will be entering her fourth year with the Gremlins this spring. A third baseman in high school, she has been part of Karns City teams that have won 44 of 57 games and a pair of District 9 championships over the past three years.
Dunn recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and softball careers at Chatham University in Pittsburgh.
“My last two choices came down to Gannon and Chatham,” Dunn said. “I like the small-school setting. I feel like I can make a difference there.”
While KC softball has been winning, Chatham has been struggling. The team finished 12-20 under fourth-year coach Deanna Tritinger last season, its most wins in a season since the team was 13-23 in 2012.
“Their coach was very interested in me,” Dunn said. “She made me feel wanted.”
Dunn has been a power bat in the Karns City lineup. She hits fourth in the batting order and carried a .534 batting average and 1.034 slugging percentage last season. Those numbers were .523 and 1.092 her sophomore year. Her career on-base percentage is well over .500.
Karns City has won 32 of 37 games in the past two seasons.
“Mackenzie has been one of our anchors, that's for sure,” KC softball coach Mike Stitt said. “She is one of four 4-year starters we will have in the lineup next season.”
The other three are Logan Byers, Emily Huff and Kate Allen.
“She is a tremendous third baseman,” Stitt said of Dunn. “Her range is outstanding and she makes all the plays. I have no doubt she could play that position in college.”
Chatham likes Dunn as a catcher, however. She had played behind the plate the past three years for her summer travel team, the Pittsburgh Predators.
“I love playing catcher because I am involved in every play,” Dunn said. “I'm the only one who can see the whole field. I can see that our defense is where we want everybody to be.
“Karns City needs me at third base. That makes us a better team, so that's where I play. I want to help my team. That's No. 1.”
Dunn is carrying a 4.22 grade-point average in high school. She plans to go into physical therapy.
“My goal in softball at Chatham is to help my team as a freshman,” she said. “The team made big strides last year and I want to help keep it going in the right direction.”
Chatham won only 16 games in the previous four years combined before winning 12 last year.
