Sports Spotlight: Kameryn Etherington brings dual-threat edge to Northwestern softball

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – With 163 career hits and 556 career strikeouts, Northwestern’s Kameryn Etherington has been a rising star for the red hot Red Raiders. An impact that’s taken the senior pitcher and utility player to new heights this season, becoming a two-way force for the GPAC’s top team.

Whether in the circle or at the plate, Kameryn Etherington is a difference maker on the diamond.

“I love to pick her brain apart,” Northwestern junior pitcher Kate Kralik said.

“I just play like it’s my last game,” Northwestern senior pitcher and utility Kameryn Etherington said.

Etherington made the full time move from outfield to the mound after freshman year, and her dual-threat nature has been on full display this spring. Leading the team in strikeouts, hits, RBIs, batting average, slugging, and on base percentage.

“Not a lot of people can say, as a pitcher, I can help my team both offensively and defensively. So when one thing isn’t going my way, I try so much harder on the other to help my team out,” Etherington said.

She may not be the loudest player, but Etherington lets her talent do the talking. The biggest noise coming on Feb. 9 with her 481st career punch out, becoming the program’s all-time strikeout leader.

“We’re playing as a team and that’s why I’m being so successful,” Etherington said.

“Her attitude and just the way she acts and responds to things has just changed drastically and she’s just so fun to be around,” Kralik said.

Creating energy through performance, and its fueled Northwestern. Following a program-record 47-win season, the Red Raiders have won 37 games to sit atop the GPAC. Earning the lowest ERA in the league through an exciting stretch for Etherington.

“The funniest thing is that Kameryn has smiled more in the last couple of weeks than she probably ever has in her career and I think she’s happier,” Northwestern softball head coach Shane Bouman said. “Being happier has really helped our program.”

With 5 seniors on roster, Etherington is the only one who won’t be returning next year. Making this her final spring of college softball. But the Algona, Iowa native isn’t leaving anything to chance. Leading by example and leaving it all out on the diamond for her last season.

“Attitude, effort, hustle, toughness and defense. Those are the five things that we talk about and we live by it,” Etherington mentioned.

“Keep focusing on what’s going on inside our circle because there’s a lot of good things and there’s a lot of things we can improve on,” Northwestern senior infielder Gwen Mikkelsen said. “When we improve on those things we’re a threat. We wanna bring home that natty.”

Maintaining a 1-0 mindset each time out, while Etherington enjoys one last ride in Red Raider threads.

“We’re awfully proud of her,” Bouman added.

“Why not go out with a bang? Become 1-0 to get that dub,” Etherington said.

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