Tucson SPORT - September 2007 - (Page 26) STORY BY MORGAN O’CROTTY SHE PITCHES FASTER THAN THE AVERAGE SPEED OF A CAR ON A TUCSON FREEWAY. SHE COMMITTED TO PLAY FOR THE NATION’S TOP COLLEGE SOFTBALL PROGRAM THIS SPRING. And she’s about to start her junior year at Canyon del Oro High School after a summer recovering from a life threatening blood clot in her arm and chest. Does the thought of a seven ounce softball being hurled upwards of 70mph in your direction worry you? That’s the question16-year-old Kenzie Fowler’s opponents must deal with when facing the varsity pitcher and twotime recipient of Southern Arizona’s Player of the Year Award. “She’s one of the premier pitchers in the nation--not only in the state,” says pitching coach Gale Bundrick, who has been working with Kenzie since she was nine years old. “It’s quite intimidating to come up against someone who throws as hard and as well as Kenzie does.” Kelly and Lance Fowler made it a point to encourage Kenzie and her younger sister, Mattie, to become involved in sports at a young age. Both girls have participated in dance, basketball, swimming and, of course, softball. “I was from the generation where you played all sports—they were a part of my family, my upbringing,” says Kelly Fowler, after taking a seat next to Kenzie. “When we were raising our kids we just wanted to expose them to as many sports as possible and let them kind of find their way.” Indeed, Kenzie found her way straight to the pitchers mound and hasn’t looked back. 26 TUCSON SPORT MAGAZINE | www.tucsonspor t.net http://www.tucsonsport.net
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