Nottingham High grad Kim Murl is a star hitter on the West Chester University softball team
Kim Murl has been pitching less and hitting more this spring.
A lot more.
The former Nottingham High standout has swung a sweet bat for the West Chester University softball team this spring. As of mid-April, Murl was hitting .333 with six doubles, a home run and a team-high 32 RBI. Throw in 23 walks and her on-base percentage was .424.
“I’m honored to have the chance to show I can swing a bat,” Murl said. “Usually at the college level, the pitcher rarely gets her chance to hit. The batting coach has told me since my freshman year that I have one of the best swings on my team, and he didn’t understand why coach never allowed me to bat.
“Luckily, when I finally got my chance this year, I had a good game and coach has been putting me in the lineup ever since. I give [Steinert coach] Jean Ruppert credit for my success after working with me over the summer. I worked hard and it paid off.”
The one down side, if you could call it that, is that the junior was pitching less than she did during her first two seasons. But she has still been effective.
After throwing one pitch to earn a save against Bloomsburg University on April 13, Murl was 3-1 with a 1.79 ERA in nine appearances (three starts). She was the third starter, with the other two combining for 34 starts.
But less pitches in the circle meant more hits at the plate. She even came up with a first this season.
“My biggest highlight this year was my home run (against Bluefield on March 16),” she said. “It actually was my first home run I’ve ever hit during my whole softball career, I’m usually good for a double. And to do it at the college level was pretty awesome.”
In short, when she’s not pitching, Murl is doing the job as West Chester’s designated player.
“Kim is having an amazing breakout year at the plate,” coach Diane Lokey said. “During her freshman and sophomore year, she did not have that many chances to hit as she concentrated more on pitching. During the last two seasons, she always practiced her hitting but never got the chance to execute it. It is nice to see all of her hard work pay off. “
It was especially paying off with runners on base, as Murl was averaging nearly an RBI per hit.
“She is comfortable in the batter’s box and that is why she is able to produce the RBIs,” Lokey said. “She is confident and patient in working the count, which produces the RBIs.”
As the clean-up hitter, Murl knows that run production is her main job.
“I’ve been batting in the four hole since our Florida trip, so that’s a little added pressure knowing I have to come up big for my team and get a run or two in if I can,” she said. “It has worked so far, but I have had a few games that I just couldn’t get that clutch hit which is frustrating sometimes.”
More times than not, however, she came through.
“My adrenaline is definitely pumping a little higher knowing there are RBIs out there,” Murl said. “It’s very nerve wracking knowing my team is relying on me to get those runs in and when I don’t succeed, it’s a huge letdown for both me and my team.
“Luckily, the girls on my team are always encouraging and telling me to keep up what I’m doing and I’ll get it next time. We are there for each other, which is nice.”
Murl left Nottingham with a legacy as one of the top softball players in the school’s history, as both a pitcher and hitter.
As a WCU freshman, she went 15-10 with a 2.28 ERA and four shutouts. She struck out 90 and walked 24. The following year, however, her appearances dropped from 36 to 14 as she went 6-5 with a 2.90 ERA.
“Kim had an amazing freshman year on the mound,” Lokey said. “During her sophomore year, she lost a little confidence and then the junior pitcher that took over when Kim was struggling had an amazing junior year.”
And while Murl has regained her positive mindset while pitching, her time is limited due to two strong seniors in front of her.
“Kim’s confidence and her pitching form from her freshman year is back and now she is just playing back seat to two seniors,” Lokey said. “In the outings that Kim has had, she looks in command.”
During those first two years, Murl had just 45 at-bats and hit .200 each of her first two seasons. With her pitching duties limited last year, it could have been easy to get down. But through it all she did not lose faith, pointing to the fact that she was always involved.
“I’ve pretty much been in the game in some capacity since my freshman year,” she said. “I’m hoping I get more mound time next season. Our two senior pitchers will be gone, so I’m hoping it will be my turn next season.
“In the back of my mind, you never know what kind of recruiting class is coming in next year, but I plan on working my butt off again this summer to be in the game in some capacity for my senior year.”
She then added with a laugh, “Wow, did I say senior year? It’s so hard to believe how fast my college years are going.”
They have gone quickly and with a few ups and downs, but Murl has remained the consummate team player and dealt with whatever came her way.
“Sophomore year, it was definitely very disappointing to me, but I never gave up and I was always ready when the coach needed me,” she said. “I’ve learned at the college level that you can’t take a position for granted because there are 25 other girls on the team that are just as talented as you.
“You always have to keep working hard and be ready for when you get another chance. I also worked very hard on my pitching speed with (pitching coach) Jackie Sasko over the summer. I did expect to have a better sophomore season, but it made me want to work harder to get back on the mound. Coach has me warming up more before and in between games so hopefully I will get more chances to be out there on the mound.”
One thing Lokey is certain of: Wherever she needs Murl, the former Northstar will answer the call.
“She is a tremendous athlete and it nice to see her confidence on the mound and in the batter’s box help her team,” the coach said. “She would do anything we ask her as she also practices at first base.
“We have a high percentage of players on this team that do things because they want to do it, not because I tell them to do it, and that makes a world of difference and Kim is one of them. She will not only excel on the softball field but she will be a dedicated educator.”
For now, however, Murl is just happy to be enjoying success after her sophomore slump. And as so often happens, help came from home.
“I have a huge support system in my Mom (Jodi) and aunt Tara (Lavin), who are my biggest supporters, which is a huge help; they never let me give up,” said Murl, who says her time at West Chester has been the best of her life. “I basically worked my butt off over the summer with both hitting and pitching twice a week for each. Coach told me what she wanted me to work on and that’s what I did.”
And the results have been a big hit.
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