Female Athlete of the Year Runner-Up: Kasey Lange

In college softball, it’s hard to improve on a season in which one hits .372 with six home runs and 40 runs batted in. Yet in a season with many new faces, junior third baseman Kasey Lange stepped up her production to another level.

This season, Lange was responsible for an RBI per game, driving in 43 in as many games and leading the Ivy League once again. She also batted .346 with an astounding 13 home runs, setting the Harvard record for most career homers with one season still to play.

“Kasey sets the tone at the plate,” Harvard coach Jenny Allard said. “She’s fearless, and that’s a great attitude to have.”

Lange’s accomplishments have extended beyond her talents at the plate. She has stepped up in the field as well, turning six double plays and making only six errors playing at the hot corner.

“She emerged defensively this year and made some unbelievable plays in the infield,” Allard said.

Her all-around play earned Lange a unanimous first team all-Ivy League selection. The team has recognized her leadership as well, choosing her to be co-captain next year.

“Kasey is an absolute boss,” sophomore infielder Emily Gusse said. “We communicate really well and get each other on and off the field, so it’s been awesome to see her success. Everyone wants to follow in her footsteps. She’s an awesome leader, an awesome example, and a really good teammate.”

Despite all of her individual accomplishments, Lange could not lead her team to a second consecutive Ivy League championship.

“It was obviously a disappointing end to the season, especially with such a young team,” Lange said.

In the last weekend, the team needed to win three games against Dartmouth in order to advance to the Ivy League Championship Series. After splitting the first doubleheader of the weekend, Harvard was unable to keep pace, losing 5-4 to the Big Green, and was knocked out of contention for the league title.

With the Crimson’s youth gaining experience, Lange firmly believes in the team’s ability to perform next season. Harvard graduates only four players from this year’s squad.

“I think we are going to work on maturing as a team,” Lange said. “We are coming in with nine of the same starters.”

Despite all her accomplishments, Allard believes that Lange still has room to improve in her final season in Cambridge.

“One thing she can improve on is being more consistent,” Allard said. “She didn’t have a great preseason, but she really hit her stride during conference play. At the beginning of the season, she was trying to do too much in the lineup. She does her best when she lets the ball and the game come to her.”

—Staff writer Jacob W. Lynch can be reached at jacoblynch@college.harvard.edu.