| Kara Willis |
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NOTABLES: Worked hard in the offseason to improve her fastball and offspeed pitches as well as her control ... Changes speed well ... Owns a good changeup.
2010 Started 19 games on the mound for the Beacons, posting an 8-10 overall record ... On April 7, registered her first career shutout by tossing seven scoreless innings vs. Mount Ida, scattering four hits while striking out six in UMass Boston's 4-0 win ... From April 7-14, registered a perfect 4-0 record in four outings while notching a minute 0.95 ERA to go along with 24 strikeouts ... On April 28, produced a career-high of 10 strikeouts over a five inning outing vs. Newbury College in a 10-2 UMB victory ... Recorded 77 strikeouts on the year to rank sixth in the Little East Conference and fifth all-time in UMB annals ... Tossed 15 complete games on the season.
2009: Enjoyed a fine rookie season for the Beacons, leading the Little East Conference with a school-record 163 innings pitched ... Ranked third among LEC leaders and matched the school standard with 27 appearances, ncluding a league-best 26 starts ... Tied the school mark with 10 victories, which placed eighth among LEC pitchers, while striking out 87 batters to rank eighth in the conference and stand as the second-highest total in school annals ... Hurled 23 complete games for the third-most in school history, while posting a 4.68 earned run average to place seventh in a season among all-time Beacons ... Held opponents to three or fewer runs in 12 starting assignments ... Allowed just one run on seven hits and two walks, while striking out a batter in a nine-inning complete game victory over University of Southern Maine on April 14 as part of a stretch of 15 1/3 innings pitched, where she allowed just one earned run ... Did not allow an earned run in 10 2/3 innings over parts of four games, including a seven-inning complete game win over Framingham State College, where she gave up an unearned run on four hits and five walks, while fanning six on March 26.
PERSONAL/HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three varsity letters playing for Burrillville High School ... Appointed team Captain and received the Broncos' Most Valuable Player award in 2008 ... Named to the All-Academic Team her senior year ... A two-time All-Division selection for BHS ... Born December 2, 1989 ... Daughter of Brandon Willis ... Interests include many types of art including drawing, design work and illustrating ... Majoring in art and would like to pursue a career as a video game/graphic designer.
