Pictured at the Hobbs Park Softball diamond are the members of this year’s All-Area Softball Team. Surrounding coach Jill Larson-Bradney of Perry-Lecompton are, clockwise from front left: Courtney Kasson, Perry-Lecompton; Rosie Hull and Maggie Hull, Free State; Hailie Rae, Ottawa; Lauren Himpel, Tonganoxie; Alex Zordel, Baldwin; and Kendall Patterson, Missy Rome, Lezley Lawson and Kaley Patterson, McLouth.

Looking at Perry-Lecompton High pitcher Courtney Kasson as a freshman or sophomore, an observer would have had a difficult time predicting her as the winner of the 2009 Journal-World’s All-Area Player of the Year.

Even Kasson will acknowledge this.

“From my freshmen year, I didn’t stand out,” Kasson said. “I was a mediocre player.”

As an underclassman, Kasson often was frustrated when she did not play to her potential.

“Coach would have to come out and help me,” Kasson said. “You can’t show emotion. Other teams feed off of you. I had to work on it all the time.”

Yet work she did. According to Kasson, during her junior season she simply stopped showing emotion. If she grew frustrated, she would go into the dugout and calm herself down. But on the field she would never show it.

It was before her junior season when Kasson’s hard work finally paid off. She went from an emotional and immature player to a dangerous threat on the pitching mound and in the batter’s box.

“Being in the middle of the field, you of course have a lot of leadership,” PLHS coach Jill Larson-Bradney said. “Her composure helped our team many times.”

Kasson’s work on the mound was enough to lead her team to the state tournament in 2008 for the first time in school history. Although Perry did not win the title, the experience at state gave the senior pitcher a drive to become an even better player.

“I was ready to come back this year,” Kasson said. “I didn’t want that to happen again as soon as the umpire called, ‘Ball game.’ I just wanted to bring it this season for my team.”

Although the Kaws lost in their final game of regionals this season, they finished with a 19-3 record and were third in the Kaw Valley League. Kasson finished with a 15 wins, eight shutouts and an earned-run average of 1.18.

As if her stats on the mound were not enough, Kasson was equally as impressive at the plate, batting .597 with six home runs.

“The past two years she batted around .600 and was our No. 1 pitcher,” Larson-Bradney said. “I didn’t cut her any slack. She definitely deserves it.”

Kasson takes pride in her stats but does not forget the journey it took to get this award from her freshman season.

“It was a shock to me,” Kasson said. “From that, to getting the postseason awards this year, it’s just like, ‘Wow, I have improved so much.’ It makes me think about how much I can still improve. Working hard and not being lazy pays off.”

Kasson will continue her softball career next year at Butler County Community College in El Dorado.