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Playing the waiting game pays off for SIU's McNamara

BY PETE SPITLER, the southern

Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:24 PM CDT

Recruited out of Putnam Valley (N.Y.) High School, Southern Illinois University softball pitcher Katie McNamara played the waiting game.

She waited during her freshman year, when she appeared in seven games. She waited some more during her sophomore year, seeing action in just four games.

Now in her junior season, McNamara is finally seeing that waiting paying off.

"I think (coach) Kerri (Blaylock) did a really good job of just talking to me on the side and making me know what my role is and knowing what it is like to come in relief," McNamara said. "I feel like it really encouraged me to know that I could come in and contribute."

McNamara has seen her role change drastically this season. Rather than looking up to the upperclassmen in front of her on the depth chart, she has played the role of mentor to freshmen hurlers Danielle Glosson and Nikki Waters.

"We've had lots of talks before," McNamara said. "About what it's like to struggle and how you bounce back from it.

"Lord knows, my freshman year I definitely had the struggling process down."

Glosson and Waters have seen the majority of the action for the 15-14 Salukis, who were held scoreless in a three-game weekend sweep by Wichita State that evened SIU's record in the Missouri Valley Conference to 3-3.

SIU was swept in a three-game conference series for the first time since joining the MVC in 1993.

Glosson and Waters have seen the majority of the action in the early going, with Waters leading the pitching staff in appearances with 19.

But Blaylock says to not discount McNamara's abilities as a veteran.

"She's got to talk to the young kids and make them understand how I work and what I do as a pitching coach," Blaylock said. "She's really come in and done a great job. She's accepted her role, she understands when she can be special and come in and give people fits."

While her ERA of 3.44 trails that of her teammates, McNamara has the best record at 6-2. Opponents are batting .264 against her, which ranks second on the team behind Glosson's .237.

"I feel like she can be very, very effective in a relief role," Blaylock said. "We've been using her as a closer or middle relief and that's when I think she's her nastiest because people don't see her stuff.

"She's a very stark contrast to Nikki and Danielle."

Both Blaylock and McNamara point to the performances against Minnesota in the season-opening Jacksonville (Fla.) University tournament as one of the highlights of the season for the southpaw.

McNamara went a combined 10.1 innings, giving up just one earned run, while striking out eight and surrendering just four hits as SIU outscored the Golden Gophers 14-5 in two games.

"I think the second game against Minnesota was one of my better games," said McNamara, who went the complete game after coming on in relief of Glosson in SIU's 11-4 win in the first meeting between the Salukis and Golden Gophers.

"I struggled the first game that weekend and I came back and proved to myself and to the team that I can do this and pitch well for the team."

Starter or relief, McNamara is relishing the opportunity for increased playing time.

"I really have no preference as long as I get to play sometimes," McNamara said. "I think I've learned to cherish the relief role because it's a role that's on you to stop the other team and your team can back you up and help out to win."

pete.spitler@thesouthern.com / 351-5073@thesouthern.com / 351-5073