Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – With 40 career starts in the circle during her first three varsity seasons Katie Bracken is no rookie.

Despite working better than 275 innings over the past three seasons Bracken still found herself in a new role entering her junior season.

After playing understudy to one of the top pitchers in Class 2A in departed senior Sarah Lehman for three seasons Bracken stepped into the spotlight as the Regals’ unquestioned ace.

Following a bumpy start to the season Bracken is beginning to shine in her role as the star of the staff.

“I think she probably felt a little pressure, it was a little bit new but I think she is getting more comfortable,” Regina coach Jake Koolbeck said. “She is a very easy kid to work with so it’s just settling down and getting back into that groove she was in last year.”

Bracken allowed at least two runs in each of her first 10 starts and 5.03 ERA before the start of last week.

She rattled off four consecutive wins and 20 scoreless innings to open last week as she settled into her new role as the number one pitcher.

“I think it was all mental honestly,” Bracken said. “I think I was in my head a little too much and I’m getting out of that a little bit now.”

Bracken has proven the past three seasons she can be an elite pitcher.

The right-hander went 10-4 with a 2.06 ERA last season in 14 starts as the second option behind Lehman.

Last week Bracken looked like the same pitcher that compiled a 29-14 record in her first three seasons.

“Even they had Sarah last year Katie threw really well and was an all-state player,” Koolbeck said. “I think it was just taking some of that pressure off herself and getting back to what she does well attack hitters and get those strikeouts and roll us ground balls.”

Bracken started her strong week working 10 scoreless innings in a doubleheader sweep of Mid-Prairie.

She added one-hit shutout performances against Tipton and Mid-Prairie and allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out 20 in four conference wins last week.

“It’s a little different role but I trust the defenders behind me to do their job,” Bracken said. “A lot of it is just mental.”

Bracken dropped three games to Class 5A competition at the Jack North Tournament in Des Moines last weekend and has a 9-9 record and 3.81 ERA this season.

“She is definitely getting back into it,” Koolbeck said. “I think as we progress she will get more comfortable of being the role of being the ace.”

In addition to her pitching duties Bracken leads Class 2A seventh-ranked Regina (14-10) with a .403 batting average and 29 hits and ranks second on the team with 15 RBI.

“I just try to play my game every day,” Bracken said. “No team is different you can’t change the way you approach any team.”