BENTONVILLE — Arkansas-Monticello softball coach Alvy Early never saw Kali Piha play in the outfield during high school, but he had a pretty good scouting report.
Early’s son, Kent, coached Piha at Bentonville High and was constantly telling him how she would be a good outfielder for him. The problem was Piha was the Lady Tigers’ top pitcher and helped lead Bentonville to the Class 7A state title game a year ago.
So Kent Early had to do a little selling to not only his father, but also to Piha since she had all but decided to attend Lyon College at one point.
Profile
KALI PIHA
School: Arkansas-Monticello
Class: Freshman
Height: 5-3
Notable: Bats and throws right-handed … Hit .255 with five home runs and a team-high 33 runs batted in for the Cotton Blossoms … Played in 50 of 53 games with 47 starts mainly in left field. … Helped lead Bentonville to the Class 7A state championship game as a senior.
“The outfield is her natural position,” Kent Early said. “But she had to pitch for us because she was our best competitor. He talked to her early and liked her. I just told her ‘Kali, if you just go visit I promise you you’ll want to go there. She called on her way home and said ‘I love it.’”
Alvy Early said knowing Kent and also him being familiar with how he coaches were also key.
“He’s been with me and he knows my process,” Alvy Early said. “He said she’s not only a good player, but a good student and good person.”
He was unsure how Piha would work out at the collegiate level, but she’s done just fine playing in 51 of 54 games with 48 starts mostly in the outfield for the Cotton Blossoms.
Piha admitted playing at the collegiate level was intimidating at first.
“It’s a lot different than high school,” Piha said. “Playing with all these athletes who have been playing longer and are way more experienced than me.
“I think the biggest challenge for me is trying to stay consistent. I think I’m really doing good at the plate, but then the next week I don’t do so hot. I don’t produce like I want. It just give me more drive to work harder for the next weekend.”
Even Alvy Early was unsure how Piha would fare at the collegiate level, but she’s turned into one of the better freshmen in the Great American Conference.
“Like everybody, she’s had some ups and downs,’ Early said. “Freshmen come in, they don’t know how to act. It took her a little while to adjust playing with better players.
“We had a little question at shortstop, so she played there some. Because she was hitting we moved her to left field. She kept hitting and she’s just stayed there.”
Piha finished the season hitting .255, but that’s not the number Early looks at most. She also leads the team with 33 runs batted in and also hit five home runs.
“The thing that’s important to me is when you get those hits and she’s had some timely hits for us,” Early said. “She’s hit two grand slams this year.”
Piha also got to come back to Northwest Arkansas this weekend since Bentonville’s Tiger Athletic Complex hosted the GAC Tournament for the second consecutive year. Getting to play in familiar territory and in front of friends and family is exciting, Piha said.
“It’s kinda the old and the new all in one,” Piha said.
She continued her timely hitting, helping UAM win its first-round game 5-3 against Southern Arkansas on Friday. Piha went 1-for-3, but her three-run double was the key blow in a four-run first inning. She also went 2-for-3 with a solo homer as the Cotton Blossoms were eliminated by Southern Arkansas on Saturday.
Piha is convinced playing for another Early has worked out just fine.