Centennial Senior Shoulders Pitching Load

Centennial senior softball pitcher Britnee Barnett is hoping to create her own pitching style, but wants the wins to continue for the Coyotes, who made it to the 4A championship game last year. (Photo by Jason Stone)

By JASON STONE
Over her four years at Centennial High School, pitcher Rene Konderik was known as much for her crazy hairstyles as her pitching prowess for the Coyotes softball team.

Konderik's departure to the University of Minnesota, however, has opened the door to senior Britnee Barnett to take over the role as the team's No. 1 starter.

Just don't expect Barnett to be wearing pink hair to prom this year.

"I had it red once, but nothing crazy," Barnett said. "I'm not trying to follow in Rene's footsteps with the style."

Maybe not, but CeHS coach Bartt Underwood probably wouldn't mind if Barnett matches Konderik's success on the field.

The school record holder led the Coyotes to the state championship game last year, which Centennial lost to rival Cactus.

With an influx of new players and Barnett starting the season on fire on the mound and at the plate, Underwood is hoping for a repeat performance at the state level.

"We're way ahead of what I expected at this point," Underwood said about the Coyotes' 10-1 start, which included a championship at the Canyon Del Oro Dorado Classic earlier this month.

The 17-year-old Barnett has been a big part of the early-season success.

Using an assortment of seven pitch types, Barnett has started the season with a 6-1 record and 0.33 ERA, striking out 64 and walking only 12 over 42 innings.

Over that span, Barnett has allowed only 16 hits, but 15 of them were singles.

At the plate, Barnett has been even more dangerous. Through the first 10 games, she was batting a team-high .500 (17 of 34) and led the Coyotes in runs (10) and hits and was second in RBIs (11) and triples (four).

"Pitching is what I like the most, but I'll play wherever," said Barnett, who signed a letter of intent to play at Wichita State University next year. "I knew my time would come where I would be (the full-time starting pitcher) here."

Underwood certainly is glad to have Barnett as a weapon from both sides of the plate. As a team, Centennial is batting .409 as nine players are batting .400 or better.

If those totals continue throughout the season, Barnett could be headed to Kansas as a state champion.

"The talent is there," Barnett said about Centennial's chances of returning to the 4A title game. "The personalities are there. We can do really well, but I don't expect anything."

But Underwood knows he can expect a good game anytime Barnett takes the mound.