Streilein continues her success at Brandeis
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

MIKE LOVETT/BRANDEIS ATHLETICS Brick's Kate Streilein keeps improving her game as she has emerged as Brandeis University's best player over the last two years.

No one at Brandeis University doubted that Kate Streilein of Brick had the savvy and skills to pitch and play first base and the good eye to hit for average.

But power? That was a newfound asset for the junior, who belted 11 home runs and was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches All-New England team this spring as a second team at-large selection.

"I don't know where it came from," said Streilein, a former star pitcher at Brick Memorial. "I lifted a lot in the offseason because we have a new coach who is big on that."

And she powered many of them from the leadoff spot, where she was moved into, for the first time in her career, at mid-season.

"I didn't win it," she said. "I hit home runs leading off in three games and we did not win them, so it became a joke that if I hit leadoff home runs, we're not going to win those game."

But Brandeis won its share of games, qualifying for its first postseason tournament in the ECAC tournament and reaching 20 victories for only the fourth time in school history at 23-21. The team went 2-2 in the ECAC Tournament, where they were eliminated by Western New England College, 8-2.

"Nobody expected it," said Streilein. "The team got closer and it was less stressful and more fun. We got along well."

Streilein was on the mound when the Judges won their ECAC opener over Rivier, 2-1, and she again pitched in an 8-1 loss to Western Connecticut in the next round. The team rebounded with an 8-0 victory over Roger Williams before losing to WNEC.

"The thing is, we'd either play really well and hit well or it would be the exact opposite and we'd make a bunch of errors," said Streilein.

Streilein led the team in many categories, including hits, with 59 hits and 40 runs scored. Her home run ratio of .028 per game was 32nd in the nation. She also was 41st in the nation with an .800 slugging percentage. She had 13 doubles, 33 RBIs and a .433 batting average. She was successful on all 10 stolen base attempts

Streilein also was a second team selection in the University Athletic Association, where Brandeis competes, and twice was named conference Batter of the Week and once earned the ECAC Player of the Week award.

Streilein also did her part in the field. Although she played fewer innings at first base than in the past, she did a good job there with a .973 fielding percentage and eight errors with 256 putouts. On the mound, Streilein was 4-6 with a 4.46 ERA and completed eight of 12 games she started, with two shutouts. With four pitchers sharing the load, including two freshmen, Streilein pitched 69 innings.

"I like playing first base," Streilein said. "I never thought of myself as a great fielder, but I just got down on more balls in the dirt."

She shrugged off what she called a "rough start in Florida" for a creditable season on the mound, utilizing her screwball and drop curve as in the past.

Streilein said she plans to work hard preparing for her senior season under demanding coach Jessica Johnson, with only three players graduating, as one of the team captains after serving as co-captain this spring. Streilein and former high school teammate Stacey Ryan at Georgian Court are playing for and running a club team they organized - RKE - that won its first four games.

"We play on Wednesday nights just for fun, but it's a funny feeling being in charge of a team," said Streilein, who is a double-major at Brandeis in psychology and health career. She plans to go on to graduate school to study public health and administration.

"It's all a little challenging."

Certainly, being older carries more responsibilities. And Streilein also has kept track of and supports her brother, Brian, who pitches for Villanova after a fine career at Brick Memorial, while also giving softball lessons as a private instructor.