Kiley Myers at 75% is better than many college pitchers.
That’s why the Latrobe graduate has continued to play for Division I Marist this season despite persistent pain in her left knee.
“That kid goes out there every day and gives us a chance to win,” Marist coach Joe Ausanio said.
“She has just been incredible this year considering she’s not at 100%.”
Myers, a junior, tore the meniscus in her left knee last season and had surgery after just two games. Despite extensive rehab throughout the summer and fall, she said her knee still hurts as she lands after almost every pitch. Myers will have exploratory surgery after the season.
“I’ve been pushing through it just to get through the rest of the season,” Myers said. “Some days are better than others.”
It’s hard to tell Myers is hurting based on her stats. She is 6-3 with a 1.39 ERA and two saves — all team bests — and has 65 strikeouts in 861⁄3 innings. However, the injury has prevented her from pitching full time, as the Red Foxes are 16-24 on the season, 4-6 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Myers’ numbers would look even better if it weren’t for a two-game stretch at Arizona and Arizona State in mid-March. She entered those games with a 0.93 ERA but gave up a combined 20 runs. However, she said the experience was worth it.
“It was amazing going to their facilities and saying you played against them was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially for a school like ours,” Myers said.
Those losses also illustrate Myers’ growth since her high school days, when she was nearly unhittable.
Among her highlights was shutting out Hempfield in 2018, which ended the Spartans’ 41-game section winning streak.
“She came to us and never really had to deal with any adversity,” Ausanio said.
“She pretty much dominated wherever she went, whether it was travel ball or high school. The thing that she’s learned is there are going to be days when you give up runs, and I think the biggest thing for her is being able to understand that. She does a really good job of having a short-term memory as a pitcher, which is kind of what you need to be successful.”
Ausanio would know. He was an 11th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988 and got as high as Triple-A with the organization. He then pitched two seasons for the Yankees in 1994-95, appearing in a combined 41 games.
Ausanio originally saw Myers pitch after her freshman year with the Wildcats and offered her a scholarship. She committed as a sophomore.
“I knew right away that she was going to be special,” Ausanio said.
“It was very easy to fall in love with her. She’s a great kid, always smiling. She’s an incredible athlete.
“She always seems to look at the glass half full, which is very refreshing. A lot of times, players want to accentuate the negative, and Kiley has learned to deal with having to throw in pain and doing anything she could to help the team. That has really made her a pleasure to coach.”
