It sometimes has been a challenge for Hislop but fortunately for her and Lady Penguins, there is one constant thing that drives her.

“I've loved the game for as long as I can remember. There's so much time and dedication that goes into that you have to love what you're doing,” says Hislop, a senior first baseman. “This is your extracurricular activity and everything else on top of that is school. I truly love the game and I'll play for as long as anyone will let me.”

The Lady Penguins and new Head Coach Roni Sparrey want Hislop on their side.  Last season, Dominican's first baseman developed into the team's most consistent player.  As a junior, she upped her batting average to .330 from .160 as a sophomore. She also markedly improved her on-base percentage (.209 to .357), slugging percentage (.222 to .422), stolen base percentage (.000 to 1.000) and maintained her excellent fielding percentage, making only six errors in 237 chances.

Hislop, however, admits she had someone help her. Her dad.

Don Hislop worked with his daughter on every facet of softball. Hislop worked on hitting, fielding and throwing at a local ballpark near their home in Fremont where her mother, Janet, would occasionally shag balls in the outfield. And when it got dark, they would retreat to a batting cage that her dad built in a warehouse where he works.

“You have to make the most of what you have left,” Hislop says.

That Hislop is entering her senior season with the Lady Penguins makes it all that more important.

“Kellie has really stepped up for us as a leader. Even though she has stepped up as more of a vocal leader, Kellie has really been a true leader by example,” Sparrey says. “Her determination and work ethic on the field has influenced the team to push themselves to higher standards. I think with the program moving into a new direction as a whole, Kellie has been a huge influence on how efficiently the team is getting there.”

Hislop credits her new coach for bringing a new attitude to Dominican's softball program. She sensed that the moment Sparrey first contacted her last year after she was hired.

“She called everyone on the team and I could just tell in her voice on the phone that she was serious,” Hislop says. “She meant business and she would do whatever it takes to get it done.”

That positive vibe has carried over to this spring as the Lady Penguins prepare to make their season's debut in the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational hosted by Cal State Stanislaus this weekend in Turlock. Off-season conditioning programs and mandatory workouts implemented by Sparrey and Assistant Coach Sarah Iwata have Hislop and Lady Penguins in the right shape of mind.

“They've brought so much to the program,” Hislop says. “I think I can speak for most of the girls but we have never worked so hard in our lives. But it's been great. It's what we needed.”

The Lady Penguins return their leading RBI hitter from last season, sophomore Kayleigh Klingberg, who has improved her power as has catcher Dominique Perry, who was the team's fourth-leading hitter last year. Dominican also will rely on the leadership of pitcher Jessi Saaty and Jill Rizo, both seniors. They are joined by Shawna Robb, the fourth senior on the roster who originally came to Dominican at the same time as Hislop.

Robb and Saaty led the Lady Penguins in innings pitched last season. Dominican had added depth to its pitching staff with Karly Harris, a sophomore transfer who posted a 17-6 record with one save and a 2.36 earned run average as a freshman at Southwestern Oregon Community College last year. Harris will take the load off the pitching staff which last season called on Hislop to pitch in a pinch.
Hislop, however, is versatile enough to make a contribution to the Lady Penguins all over the field.

“As a student-athlete, I think we will see big things this season from Kellie on both offense and defense,” Sparrey says. “I think defensively she plays a very strong first base and has a great glove. Offensively, I think Kellie will provide the lineup with more power, consistency, and come up clutch for us with runners on base.”

All told, Hislop likes the progress that she sees in the program so far this year from her freshman year in 2009.

“Playing softball in college is a privilege. It's not a given,” Hislop says. “From where we were then to where we are now is night and day.”
Through it all, Hislop has acquired respect and pride for her teammates who have endured more downs than ups in the program. There have been good times – like two years ago when the Dominican players joined forces with the University of Hawai'i, Hilo's players to help dry the field after two days and repeated interruptions by rain showers on the Big Island.  

But now, with a new coaching staff and new outlook, Hislop says wins “are totally within our reach.”

Though there have been more losses than wins in her softball career at Dominican, she said the benefits have far outweighed the setbacks.

“I don't regret anything. It's been a great four years,” Hislop says. “I've met a lot of great people. I've had the opportunity to play softball and go to Hawai'i and places I probably would have never gone to on my own to do what I love to do.”