What Makes Kobela Go? Going Slow

Morton's Michelle Kobela isn't a softball pitcher who strikesfear in opposing batters. She doesn't throw the ball 60 m.p.h. Oreven 50.

All she does is win.

"Other teams see her and expect to rip her and knock the livingheck out of the ball," Morton coach Art Kasak said. "Michelle throwswhat we call an atom ball. She throws it and other teams hit it,hopefully right at someone.

"We've only had one power pitcher at Morton, Dawn Karkoska(1991). She'd have her 10 strikeouts a game but her pitching put ourfielders to sleep." Kasak named Kobela his No. 1 pitcher last spring. She responded bywinning 34 of her first 35 varsity decisions. Kobela needs only sixvictories to become the Mustangs' all-time leader.

"We knew Michelle would never be the fastest pitcher around, butshe throws strikes," Kasak said. "(Morton pitching coach) Joe Maloneworked with her to try and make her faster.

"Michelle gives us a high level of confidence and stability onthe mound. We decided to live and die with her last season."

Morton lived the good life. Kobela's only loss last season wasto Morris in the Class AA quarterfinals in Pekin. She pitched theMustangs Downstate for the first time since Morton won the statechampionship in 1986 and had victories over powers Casey, Thornwoodand West Suburban Gold rival Downers Grove South.

Kobela (8-0) avenged her loss Monday, blanking top-rated Morris1-0. The junior right-hander got Morris to pop up 16 times.

"I just try to pitch to spots," Kobela said. "If I hit thespots and jam the batters, they pop up a lot.

"I wish I was faster but I don't worry about anything exceptthrowing strikes. We've got a good team and everyone helps eachother out. Beating a team like Morris makes us want to win even morebecause it showed us what we were capable of."

Kobela credits her success to Malone and her mother, Julia.

"My mom has never missed a game, even when she was sick," Kobelasaid. "Growing up in Germany and Czechoslovakia, my mom playedbasketball and softball, just like me."

Kobela divides the plate into five zones, inside low, insidehigh, outside low, outside high and down the middle. The five spotscombined with a much improved changeup make up her winning arsenal.

"When I started playing softball it was just for fun," Kobelasaid. "Now, I'm serious about it. This year, I'm more experiencedand more into playing.

"It feels to me like I may be even slower than last year. But Idon't worry. I just want to keep winning."