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East Softball Defeats Lincoln

Team Bolstered By Park Hill’s Kate Michalek

Story and photos by Reid Neureiter

For the GPHN

East freshman pitcher Mia Zender delivers a pitch against Lincoln during the 20-2 victory over Lincoln on Sept. 15. Zender struck out 14 players during the game.

The East varsity softball team dominated the Lincoln Lancers with a 20-2, five-inning away victory on Sept. 15. The win took the Angels’ record to 8-5 and a perfect 7-0 against DPS competition.

East has benefitted this year with the addition of Park Hill’s Kate Michalek, a senior shortstop who attends Regis Jesuit High. Regis did not have enough players to field a varsity squad this year. Under the rules of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), Michalek, who lives in Park Hill on Leyden Street, was released to play for her local high school — which is Denver East.

Michalek is a starting shortstop, and against Lincoln was 2-4 with a hit-by-pitch and three RBIs. Through the Lincoln game, Michalek was leading the East squad with a .692 batting average and a .711 on-base percentage.

Michalek told the Greater Park Hill News that it has been nice to play games just a few miles from her home. Having attended McAuliffe for middle school, she had previously played with and knew a number of the East players. Yet, playing for a new high school team beginning in her senior year did not come without some trepidation.

Michalek noted that the East “coaching staff and all the teammates were welcoming and excited to have me.” But, “going into it, I was a little skeptical,” she said.

Regis Jesuit student and East softball shortstop Kate Michalek makes a catch between innings on Sept. 15.

“I was really looking forward to playing for my own high school. But now that I have played a few games, and met the other girls, I am grateful to play for East. And it’s a lot of fun. I just really wanted to play, no matter where it was, and did not take too much convincing.” Michalek continues to receive support from Regis, which allows her to leave school early to make the drive to make the 4 p.m. start time for the East softball games.

Against Lincoln, East got a powerful pitching performance from freshman Mia Zender, who struck out 14 Lancers and only gave up two hits while pitching a complete game. At the plate, Zender also went 1-2 with three walks. Also starring at the plate was junior center-fielder and team captain Julia Pougnet-Green, who was 3-for-3 with two home runs, two walks, and five runs-batted in.

East softball’s regular season concludes with a 4 p.m. non-league home game against Green Mountain on Oct. 5.

Regis student Kate Michalek (No. 6, in the center) sits on the edge of the dugout with her East teammates during the 20-2 victory over Lincoln on Sept. 15.

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