Posted: 6/6/07
Kemen, "The Shovel" named conference MVP
 Janet Kemen, winds up for a pitch during a game against East Central April 19. During the game, she struck out 17 batters. |
By Steve Morris
On her last day of high school, Janet Kemen received a graduation gift she will take with her through college and beyond.
On May 22, the day after the Rush City softball team's banquet, Kemen was given the news by coach Kim Erdman that she had been selected as the Great River Conference Most Valuable Player.
Kemen is the first Rush City softball player in at least 14 years to be given the title.
Great River Conference coaches vote on who they want as the conference MVP. Kemen beat out four other girls from the conference.
Kemen, a senior pitcher and tri-captain on the softball team, pitched nearly every inning of every game this season. She pitched 15 complete games and struck out 147 batters. The two-year varsity starter was the team's lone pitcher all season. The only game she didn't complete was against Ogilvie.
Against the East Central Eagles, she had a season-high 17 strikeouts, which was three shy of her career high. On the junior varsity team her sophomore year, she struck out 20 batters against Barnum.
She kept batters guessing with a nasty arrangement of pitches. Standing just under five feet 11 inches, Kemen threw a combination of fastballs, change-ups, knuckle balls and drop balls.
Erdman was so confident in her ability, he allowed her to call her own pitches.
For Kemen, the news came as a bit of surprise.
"It's probably one of the best things that has ever happened to me," Kemen said.
Erdman said when he told her the news, she couldn't stop smiling.
Earning the conference MVP didn't come without effort or ease for Kemen. Last summer she was a pitching junkie. She pitched three days a week with Erdman, practicing at least six hours a week and throwing as many as 150 pitches each day. In addition to the workouts with Erdman, she played in a local bar league for more practice.
"Janet is a girl who worked very hard to get where she is at. No one has worked harder, come in more in the summer days, or stayed later than Janet has," Erdman said.
Not only was Kemen deadly on the mound, she also had an uncanny ability to play defense. With a non-typical pitcher's glove nicknamed "The Shovel" Kemen stopped many balls up the middle. Her teammates and coaches took notice and she was named the team's Defensive MVP along with junior shortstop Chelsea Peterson.
"She fielded her position better than any pitcher I have had, without a doubt," Erdman said.
Her jump to the conference MVP came rather quickly. She started playing softball her freshman year. (Rush City doesn't offer 7th and 8th grade softball) Last year she shared pitching time with Bobbi Cort and was not even named to the All-Conference team.
In the fall, Kemen plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout where she will try to walk-on the softball team. Kemen said she has talked with the coach some and she is looking forward to the tryouts.
"I think if she works at it, she can play college ball," Erdman said.
Erdman was pleased Kemen was named the conference MVP, despite the fact the team didn't finish on top of the conference or go deep into the playoffs. The Tigers finished 5th in the conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Zimmerman 1-0. They finished the season with a record of 5-11 overall and 4-7 in the conference.
"As a senior I believe Janet is just now reaching her full potential. She has been a great role model for the younger pitchers who can see what kind of dedication it takes to become a good pitcher."
Kemen, who was also a starter on the girls basketball team, said she was happy to have Erdman as her coach.
"He's a great coach ... he was positive most the time and never really got down on us."
Erdman, a second-grade teacher at Jacobson Elementary School, had Kemen in class for second grade and has watched her blossom from a shy, quite second grader into a mature young adult who is never shy on words.
"There wasn't a girl on the team who didn't respect Janet," Erdman said.
RC softball awards
Most Improved
Shelbi Louge
Rookie of the Year
Tomi Schellbach
Defensive MVP's
Janet Kemen
Chelsea Peterson
Offensive MVP
Tomi Schellbach
Coaches Appreciation
Amanda Lopez
Tiger Award
Amy Carlson
All-Conference
Janet Kemen
Tomi Schellbach
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Amy Carlson
2008 Captains
Brittany Scheffer
Amy Carlson
Chelsea Peterson
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com