Jayhawks' Kosbab leads 2000 All-Journal Softball Team

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

TRUMAN -- Tyler Kosbab doesn't fit the archetype of the typical stand-out softball player. The Madelia/Truman senior isn't a household name, but Valley Conference coaches and players know her.

Kosbab is the player who does everything -- well.

"Tyler is the kind of player that rarely comes along and that a coach usually only has one or two of in a career," Madelia/Truman coach Frank Currier said. "She's been the one to go to, no matter what the problem was. Tyler was the person who could fill in at any position."

Kosbab's "natural" position is left field. She's one of the best in the Valley Conference, according to Currier, but sometimes her place is elsewhere.

"I look at it as (coach Currier) needs me, and it's part of the game," Kosbab said. "I think he depends on me a lot. He thinks I'm pretty reliable and he knows I can get the job done wherever he puts me."

She has. Kosbab was named All-Valley Conference all four of her years on the Jayhawks' varsity and she's making her third straight appearance on the All-Journal Softball Team.

She's also the The Journal Player of the Year.

Kosbab is into numbers. The recent Truman High graduate will major in accounting at St. Cloud State, where she also plans to play softball.

But Kosbab's most remarkable number isn't her career batting average (.374). She hits well, but she's not a hitting machine -- she hit .371 in 2000, but she didn't even lead her team in average.

Kosbab's most remarkable number is four.

Four errors. Four errors in four years.

What makes those four errors truly remarkable is that by the time Kosbab graduated she had played every position except first base. Accepting the challenge is all part of who she is.

Kosbab likes trying different and new things. And she enjoys being the person people count on.

Outwardly, it doesn't seem to fit her personality. Kosbab thinks of herself as shy and even timid, especially in front of people she doesn't know well.

But sports is something else.

"I think sports are different," Kosbab said. "I love sports. It is my life, basically. It has been ever since I was little. When I'm out there, I don't think about anything -- I just play."

Kosbab doesn't just play softball. Despite injuries that limited her playing time, she lettered in volleyball her senior year and in her junior and senior seasons of basketball.

Currier calls her a natural all-around athlete.

"She's got a sense of what to do with the ball, no matter what type of ball it is," he said.

But Currier added that Kosbab has something more important than court sense or field sense. She has the desire.

"When it comes to intangibles, she's got them," Currier said. "She's loaded with those, in my mind. ... I knew I could count on her in the heat of the battle, at least for an inning or so until the mind sorts out and you figure out what to do."

Outside of athletics, Kosbab further expands her list of experiences. She skis, water skis, and there's fishing and boating that also attract her interest.

She wants to take up hiking. Kosbab also enjoys swimming, and this summer will be her last summer as a lifeguard at the pool in Truman.

In softball, Kosbab has not only played every defensive position except first base, she's pitched. And she's acquitted herself well on the mound.

Kosbab compiled a 2-1 career record, logging 36 innings with 24 strike outs and allowing only 17 hits. In 2000, the right-hander was 2-0, including a shutout against Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther.

Kosbab enjoyed pitching, but her true love is left field. It's not just the running and diving and catching.

The image of isolation of the solitary left fielder complements her introspective personality. Kosbab is one of the few women her age who will freely admit to enjoying having time to herself -- time to consider, time to reflect, time to wonder.

"I like to be alone sometimes," Kosbab said. "It kind of fits me."

She thinks about the usual things for the most part -- college, career, marriage, family. But she also thinks about new challenges.

"I think college is going to be the best time of my life," Kosbab said. "It's going to be meeting all these different people from all over the place and experiencing new things.

"I'll learn so much more, it'll make me a better person. It'll make me want to do so much more. It'll allow me to go on and find the right path."

The 2000 All-Journal

Softball Team

Abby Tongen, McLeod West

Tongen -- a senior pitcher for the Falcons -- compiled a career record of 42-22 (.656) with an ERA of 1.08. In 2000, Tongen pitched 138 innings, going 17-5 (.773) record with a 1.00 ERA. She had 103 strike outs in pitching all but five innings for the Tomahawk Conference champions. Tongen was also one of the Falcons' best hitters with a .458 average and 28 RBI -- tied for second on the squad. In her four-year career, Tongen hit .355 and recorded a .966 fielding percentage. Tongen was also named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk team.

Erin Weber,

Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove

The senior catcher was a four-year starter for the Falcons and hit .365 in 2000 with 14 RBI and 28 runs scored. In 2000, Weber was selected All-Red Rock Conference, All-Section 3-2A and was named to the all-state honorable mention squad. The Falcons' co-captain started her first two years in center field before moving behind the plate for her final two seasons.

Holly Altermatt, Wabasso

Altermatt -- a senior catcher -- led the Tomahawk Conference in hitting in 2000 with a .439 average. She had 36 hits to lead the Rabbits and had 33 RBI -- second-best on the squad. Altermatt struck out only three times all season. She was named All-Tomahawk Conference.

Emily Hamann, New Ulm High

The senior co-captain and third baseman for the Eagles hit .421 in 2000 with 32 hits and a .542 on-base percentage. Hamann stole 32 bases for New Ulm High and was selected to the All-South Central Conference and All-Section 2-3A teams.

Lacie Altermatt,

Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove

The senior right-hander went 19-3 (.864) in 2000 and was 72-22 (.766) over her four-year varsity career. The Falcons' co-captain pitched 148 innings in 2000 with four shutouts and a 1.14 ERA. Altermatt batted .352 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Altermatt was selected All-Red Rock Conference, All-Section 3-2A and all-state. During her four seasons as a starter, RRC/WWG won the Red Rock Conference title all four years and advanced to the state tournament in 1998.

Steph Farenbaugh,

McLeod West

Just a sophomore, Farenbaugh has been starting for the Falcons since the eighth-grade. The center fielder hit .438 and stole a team-high 37 bases. Farenbaugh also led McLeod West with five home runs and her four triples was second on the squad. Her 28 RBI tied her for second on the team and Farenbaugh led the team in runs scored with 35. In her three-year career, Farenbaugh is .359 hitter and has 113 stolen bases. Farenbaugh was honorable mention All-Journal in 1999 and was named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk team.

Stephanie Schultz, Sibley East

The senior pitcher posted a 16-4 (.800) record in 2000 with a 1.18 ERA. Schultz was also the Wolverines' top hitter with a .484 batting average and led Sibley East in hits with 31 and runs scored with 23. Her on-base percentage of .576 and slugging percentage of .688 were also team bests. Schultz is a four-year letterwinner, a three-time All-Minnesota River Conference selection and was chosen the Wolverines' most valuable player the last two seasons. "She's the winningest pitcher in Sibley East history. She's a team leader and will do well in college. She can play any position," Sibley East coach Mark Standinger said.

Emily Roloff, Madelia/Truman

Roloff led the Jayhawks with a .431 batting average in 2000. She contributed 22 hits, including two triples and three home runs, and scored 23 runs. Playing shortstop, Roloff recorded 45 putouts and had 49 assists. "Emily was our clean-up hitter this year and single-handedly won several games for us with her bat," Currier said.

Julie Rohlik, Wabasso

The junior is a repeat selection to the All-Journal team. Rohlik batted .344 for the Rabbits and had 31 hits with a .526 on-base percentage in 2000. Rohlik's 41 RBI was a team high and helped her earn All-Tomahawk and All-Class 1A state tournament honors.

Steph Todd, McLeod West

Another standout sophomore for the Falcons, Todd led the team with a .509 batting average and had a team-high 44 RBI in 2000. She led the Falcons in triples with seven and had two home runs. The right fielder recorded 10 assists with only one error for a .967 fielding percentage. For her career, Todd is a .413 hitter with 75 RBI. Todd was named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk team.

Jenny Martens, Sibley East

A senior left fielder for the Wolverines, Martens hit .391 in 2000 and had a .480 on-base percentage. She recorded 27 hits and scored 16 runs for Sibley East, earning the team's Hustle Award. Martens is a two-year letterwinner at Sibley East was named All-MRC in 2000. "She has a great attitude," Standinger said. "She was one of our two best at getting on base and improved her batting average more than 100 points from last year."

Laura Hazuka,

New Ulm Cathedral

The senior right fielder/catcher hit .463 for the Greyhounds with a .506 on-base percentage. Hazuka recorded a .408 career batting average and her 82 career runs scored is a school record. Hazuka's 106 career hits is one shy of the Cathedral mark set by Maria Boettger. She was named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk squad and after taking over catching duties for Cathedral threw out seven of 10 runners attempting to steal. "Laura really has had an outstanding career," Cathedral coach Bob Mertz said. "She holds many career records at Cathedral. Laura really leaves a void in our softball program."

Stacy Hilleshiem,

Sleepy Eye St. Mary's

The Knights' senior first baseman had a .975 fielding percentage in 2000 and hit .292. Hilleshiem was third on the team in hits with 21 and tied for second in RBI with 20. Her 22 runs scored in 2000 was also second-highest on the squad. Hillesheim was named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk team.

Sam Kosek, McLeod West

The Falcons' first baseman hit. 383 in 2000 and had 25 RBI with 23 runs scored. She committed only 10 errors in 226 chances for a .975 fielding average. For her career, Kosek is a .300 hitter with .936 fielding percentage. She was also named All-Tomahawk Conference in 2000.

Angela Shumacher, Wabasso

The senior hit .313 for the Rabbits and led Wabasso to a third-place finish at the 2000 Class 1A softball tournament with a 12-3 pitching record (.800) and an 0.92 ERA. Shumacher scored 36 runs to lead the Rabbits and tied for the team lead in triples with three. Shumacher was also named All-Tomahawk Conference in 2000.

Mandey Gillis,

Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove

The senior third baseman has been a four-year starter for the Falcons and hit .380 in 2000 with 27 hits, 17 RBI and 15 runs scored. The Falcons' co-captain was named to the all-state academic, All-Section 3-2A and All-Red Rock Conference squads.

Kathryn Helget,

Sleepy Eye High

The senior third baseman led the Indians with a .356 batting average and struck out only three times in 2000. Helget was named to the 2000 All-Tomahawk squad, leading the team in hits with 21 and recording 13 stolen bases. "Kathryn improved her hitting tremendously this year," Sleepy Eye High coach Cory Haala said. "Kathryn moved to third base this season and played excellent defense and worked very hard in practice to make herself better."

Cassie Schultz, New Ulm High

The sophomore right-hander went 11-3 (.786) in 2000 and struck out 91 batters in 90 innings. Schultz yielded 44 hits and recorded a 1.01 ERA. Schultz also hit .429 in limited at-bats and was named All-SCC.

Honorable Mention

Nicollet: Cara Wright, Marta Peters; Wabasso: Annie Moore, Tiffany Froehlich, Jessica VanLoy, Amanda Frank; Sibley East: Kris Sauter, Becky Cameron, Lori Dose, Rachel Cameron; McLeod West: Becky Tongen; New Ulm High: Shelly Gramentz, Allison Boddy, Jenny Brandel; Minnesota Valley Lutheran: Jenny Burt; Sleepy Eye St. Mary's: Jocelyn Helget, Mel Braulick, Kelly Trebesch, Nicole Steffl, Nicole Schumacher; Sleepy Eye High: Kristen Krebs, Pam Borth; New Ulm Cathedral: Kristin Beranek; Springfield/Cedar Mountain/Comfrey: Sara Anderson, Cara Anderson.