DUBUQUE – When asked about her strengths sophomore pitcher Kate Earlywine keeps it short.

“I think I’m hardworking and positive on the diamond,” says Earlywine.

Ask her teammates about her, and they cannot stop talking.

“Kate is one of those people who never get down; she is a great kid and she works really hard each and every day,” says senior captain Stacy Bahl. “She is always trying to hit her spots; she always tries to hit her corners when she needs to,” adds junior catcher Kim Chalekian.

Her teammates say she always has a positive attitude and can get big strikeouts when they are most needed. That has led to Kate breaking her own record

“I broke the record for the most strikeouts in a game,” says Kate.

Those big strikeouts have led to over 200 hitters leaving the batter’s box empty handed. This season Kate broke the record for the most career strike outs, giving her the most of any pitcher in Loras history.

These numbers are not the focus of this sophomore’s game.

“I just love the lessons you can learn from being an athlete and playing sports,” says Kate.

Hard work, teamwork, and discipline are just a few of the things that Kate attributes to her time spent on the playing field. Add all those together and she has two records and a whole lot of respect; especially from her catcher.

“She is out there in the middle of that circle, all alone pitching every pitch,” says catcher Kim Chalekian.

That is not how Kate sees it. In fact, she throws the credit right back at her teammates.

“A lot of the credit goes to my teammates, especially to my catchers; they are calling pitches every game so I do not think people realize how much work they put in,” says Kate.

In a sport where even small mistakes can decide the game; Kate’s contribution makes a big difference.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com