By Jimmy Allinder
Kaleigh Dwyer, a senior for the East Brunswick High School softball team, remembers the moment well.
It was the season opener a year ago, and the junior pitched a full seven-inning game against Edison High School, shutting out the Eagles, 15-0. It was the first time Dwyer was able to throw more than three innings without extreme leg pain after breaking it during a travel league tournament the previous fall. The boost to her confidence was immeasurable.
“At the time, I honestly didn’t think I was ready to pitch that long,” said Dwyer, who continued as the Bears’ No. 1 hurler for the rest of the season. “But that game did it for me.”
What it did was shift Dwyer into a more confident gear that enabled her to pitch the Bears to the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) championship game. Although East Brunswick lost to Sayreville War Memorial High School, Dwyer’s performance throughout the season against quality opponents in and out of the GMC showed she is more than ready for her final year in the circle as a Bear.
Dwyer hopes to not only contribute on the mound, but also at the plate.
“The leg injury wouldn’t allow me to hit last year, and I really missed that,” she said. “However, I resumed hitting lessons during the offseason and the confidence I had in my swing returned, so hopefully I’ll be able to contribute.”
Breaking into the potent East Brunswick lineup would be an enormous accomplishment. The Bears are loaded with outstanding hitters, including Megan Kelliher (.341 batting average), Brenna Razzano (.422), Samantha Smalley (.383) and Ashli Venokur (.414). Anything Dwyer does beyond pitching will be a bonus.
Softball has pretty much been her sports focus since she started playing the game as a 5-year-old. Dwyer played first base in the past but has mostly concentrated on mastering the mechanics of pitching.
“Before I throw a pitch, I’m thinking about how I can control the pace of the game,” Dwyer said. “I make sure to take my time and focus on the batter. I then decide what movement to put on the ball and finish my follow-through with drag on my back leg.”
Dwyer also believes it’s important to maintain a positive attitude, regardless of the circumstances.
“A positive outlook is one of my strengths and what I’ve tried to bring to the rest of the team,” she said. “I’m not one to dwell on negatives, so I always try to pick up my teammates and help them stay loud (cheering) during the games.”
That same attitude is what she hopes will enable her to return as the all-around player she was before her broken leg.
“I know I can definitely improve my running,” she said. “I’m not the fastest out there yet, but I’ve been rehabbing hard to get back to the point I was before I left off.”
Dwyer admits when she entered high school, it was a struggle playing softball and keeping up with her schoolwork. As she adjusted to the more demanding schedule, however, she learned to effectively manage her time.
“The best tip I can give to student-athletes is to use their free time to complete homework as soon as they can,” she said. “I did it during study hall or right after practice. I [endured] some late nights here and there, but the sacrifice paid off.”
When she graduates, Dwyer will head to Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where she plans to continue her softball career. She credits Kathy Suleski, who served as her mentor when Dwyer instructed preschoolers, for inspiring her to pursue a career in education.
“There isn’t a more satisfying feeling than seeing young kids learn things for the first time and knowing you were the one that helped them reach that point,” she said.
Dwyer is also thankful for having parents, Bill and Monica, who provided continuous support throughout her years playing for the high school and Morris County Belles 18U travel team.
“My dad is the one who signed me up to play 12 years ago, and I’m forever thankful he did that,” she said. “I’ve also had the benefit of being coached by outstanding individuals and most important, I’ve played with wonderful teammates on my high school and travel teams. They were especially supportive the last two years when I went through the toughest time of my life because of the leg injury. Now that I’m back, I’m ready to go.”
