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Student-Athlete Profile: Kjirsten Beckstead
As a sophomore last season, the right-handed hurler tossed the first no-hitter in VSU softball history, a 12-1 win over Saint Augustine's College. Then in her next start she followed it up with a second straight no-no. This time a 21-0 shellacking of Lincoln (Pa.) University. It marked the first time in CIAA history that a softball pitcher had tossed consecutive no-hit ball games. The CIAA however, passed over Beckstead for it's Player of the Week honors, instead awarding a pitcher who pitched two shutouts. Beckstead had allowed one unearned run in the first of her no-hitters. Usually no-hitters trump shutouts, but not in this case. No respect. No respect at all. To be fair, the coaches of the CIAA softball teams have actually noticed Beckstead's talent. As a freshman, Beckstead was named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team and to second-team All-CIAA. After all, she was seventh in the CIAA in strikeouts with 69 and sixth in the conference with strikeouts looking (15). Also as a freshman, Beckstead was named to the Second Team of the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Team. Last season, Beckstead was fourth in the CIAA with 104 strikeouts and led the conference with nine complete games and a 2.98 earned run average. This time, the CIAA coaches voted Beckstead to the First Team of the All-CIAA Team and to the CIAA All-Tournament Team. This year, however, the Daktronics' voters passed over Beckstead for All-Region team selection. No respect. No respect at all. Now, as a junior, Beckstead is looking forward to reaching more milestones this upcoming season. She enters 2009 with 173 strikeouts, and should become the first Lady Trojan to reach the 200-strikeout plateau since Tiya Hines in 2004. "I would like to be known as someone who is determined, motivated, independent, well-rounded, steadfast, friendly and goal-oriented," Beckstead wrote. And when the 5-7 mighty mite is on the mound for the Lady Trojans, she demands respect also. |
Virginia State University's Kjirsten Beckstead could very well be the Rodney Dangerfield of the CIAA.