Hard work allows BC's Oranger to be one of best

Anyone who has ever played softball at Burlington Central High School knows that doing so brings with it some lofty expectations.

Kayla Oranger has met and exceeded those expectations time and time again.

Having just completed her junior season, Oranger is on track to put her name in the IHSA record books in several categories. The fleet left-handed shortstop not only hits for average and scores runs with the best of them, she steals bases like a thief in the night, and her release of a fielded grounder makes even the quickest runner shake her head in disbelief when the umpire calls her out.

More Coverage Links The Fox Valley All-Area Team All-Area co-captain Lauren Arceneaux

But what may define Oranger's 2008 season, and her three-year varsity career to this point, may be the fact that her work ethic is one of the strongest to hit this area in a long time.

"She definitely puts in the time above and beyond to improve her game," says BC coach Scot Sutherland. "You just can't say enough about her work ethic."

That work ethic has become a staple of not only Oranger's game but the entire program on Rocket Hill. And Oranger is the key that starts the engine.

Try a few of these numbers on for size: This season, she finished with a career-high batting average of .496. She scored 46 runs, had a career-high 64 hits, a career-high 43 stolen bases and a career-high 26 RBI from the leadoff spot. She led her team, which was ranked atop the state Class 3A poll and the Daily Herald Top 20 for much of the season, to a 32-2 record and its fourth straight Big Northern East championship, as well as a fifth straight regional crown.

Couple the above along with her sterling defense at shortstop and it's easy to see why Oranger has been selected an honorary co-captain of the 2008 Daily Herald All-Area team. She shares the honor with Jacobs senior Lauren Arceneaux.

"All in all, of my three seasons this was definitely my favorite," Oranger said. "We had a lot of accomplishments this season. We thought we'd get farther but we beat a lot of good teams."

Playing for the Rockets requires constant intensity, both in practice and games, which is a good thing to Oranger.

"Pressure makes you play better," she said. "Playing ball at Central is about getting things done."

Oranger certainly gets things done for the Rockets. In addition to the aforementioned stats, she also had .605 slugging percentage and a .522 on-base percentage. She was caught stealing only three times and led her team with 4 triples. She got better and better as the year went on and even though she made 8 errors at shortstop, she played the final 22 games of the season error-free.

In her three-year career, Oranger is now a .474 career hitter with 141 runs scored, 176 hits, 56 RBI and 122 stolen bases. She already ranks in the top 15 in state history in stolen bases and could finish her career in the top 5. Her runs scored and hits totals are also in the top 50 in state history at this point.

"She's definitely the person who gets us going," said Sutherland. "She's very versatile at the plate with what she can do and she's a tough out for people. She's also done a good job for us the last three years at shortstop, a position she never played before high school.

"In my opinion, she's improved defensively the most. She's learned to pick up angles to attack balls, she's learned to turn better on fly balls fair or foul and she has a very strong arm."

Offensively, like many players who have learned to use their speed from the left side, Oranger wasn't always a left-handed hitter. Even though she throws right-handed, she writes lefty and has been hitting from the left side since she was 9. She credits her dad, Lowell, who is an assistant coach at BC, with being the impetus behind her left-handed hitting.

"Dad switched me when I was about 9," Oranger said. "It's been a lot of work and it's definitely not easy to switch and learn how to slap and bunt from the left side but my dad has taught me everything I know and now it's natural to me. I can't ever imagine not hitting lefty again."

A lot of work is something Oranger is no stranger to. People call some athletes gym rats; Oranger would best be defined as a field rat. In addition to carrying a 3.54 GPA on a 4.0 scale, she lives, eats and breathes softball, all in the hopes of landing a Division I scholarship. She's had interest from Illinois, Texas-El Paso and Northern Iowa and more should roll in this summer when she plays a high-level college exposure schedule for Brad Dennison's Bartlett Silver Hawks travel team. She's also attended several high level exposure camps, such as at Stone City, Wisconsin-Madison, Eastern Illinois and Purdue.

"She's definitely a Division I quality prospect," Sutherland said. "She's gone to a lot of exposure camps to put herself out there, and off the field she's a very strong student and has a real upside to her personality. She has a very good sense of humor and I can see where kids on and off the field gravitate to her."

Oranger has also played volleyball and basketball in high school but when it comes right down to it, softball is her sport.

"I like the atmosphere and, of course, I'm going to love a sport I'm good at," she said. "I love summer and travel ball where I can go out and play 5 or 6 games a day and be on the field all day long."

While the Rockets lost in the sectional semifinals for the third straight year, Oranger is still pleased with the season she and her team had.

"Our team chemistry was great," she said. "We all have fun and joke around but we know when it's time to get to the serious part we have to be serious. We had a good mix. We only had two seniors (Erica Maisto and Brooke Porto) and we're going to miss them but we've got a lot of talent coming back next year. We definitely want to get past that first sectional game next year. I don't know what it is -- there's some kind of jinx on us or something."

When all is said and done, Oranger hands out the most credit for her development to her parents and coaches.

"My dad has taught me everything I know about softball and I have to give my mom props for getting out there and being at all my games," said Oranger, who added that she'd like to study sport management or psychology in college. "And Suds -- I wouldn't be where I am without him and (assistant coach Wade) Maisto and all my summer ball coaches."

As all that learning continues, what area fans can expect to see next year is an even better Oranger. And to opposing coaches, that has to be one scary thought.

Previous captains

1996 -- Elizabeth Waller (Elgin)

1997 -- Heather Wendt (Burlington Central)

1998 -- Heather Wendt (Burlington Central)

1999 -- Stacy Nagel (Larkin) and Jackie Brittain (St. Edward)

2000 -- Tami Potter (Larkin)

2001 -- Kim Dean (Larkin) and Kelli Gallas (Cary-Grove)

2002 -- Lauren Morstad (Larkin)

2003 -- Lindsey Hall (Larkin)

2004 -- Tracy Korth (Larkin) and Candice Warren (Burlington Central)

2005 -- Lissa Fehlman (St. Edward) and Erica Maisto (Burlington Central)

2006 -- Corinne Dennison (Bartlett) and Caitlin Herina (Cary-Grove)

2007 -- Christine Holthus (Burlington Central) and Sarah Waylock (Cary-Grove)