AOTW: She’s legit: Northwest’s Thompson rises to stardom despite small-school tag

LIFE OF THE PARTY: The girls look to Kirsten Thompson for not only pre-game entertainment, but for leadership on the softball diamond at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — It didn’t take very long for Kirsten Thompson to prove that she belonged at the varsity level.

She became one of the top players at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest early in her freshman year. That was only three short years ago. Since then, Thompson has also proved that she’s one of the better talents in the area throughout her career.

Now a senior, Thompson is a legitimate star playing at a small school. The Lake Orion resident is a three-time all-stater in Division 4, including first-team all-state last season.

Despite playing at the D-4 level, Thompson has signed with Division II Lake Superior State University and has posted quite a resume with her level of play on the softball diamond, both at the club and high school levels. Division II schools Trine (Ind.) and Tiffin (Ohio) were also heavily recruiting Thompson.

“She’s legit,” said Northwest coach Jeff Ludwig, who has also coached several club teams in the area over the years. “She’s one of the better players that I’ve coached.”

Thompson, just one of two seniors on the roster, has helped Northwest remain one of the better small-school teams in Metro Detroit in recent years. Her team has played multiple D-1 and D-2 schools during her tenure with some success. But Thompson has still tortured opposing pitchers for four years, regardless of school-size.

RIGHT ON TARGET: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest senior Kirsten Thompson readies to fire the ball to third base during a game in May. Thompson had played on four league championship teams in her career and is likely a four-time all-stater. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

This season she moved up to the leadoff spot to help ignite the Crusaders’ offense after batting in the No. 3 or No. 4 hole in previous years. Her batting average is slightly over .500 this season — she ranks well inside the top-10 in several single-game, season or career categories with some school records to boot — with her RBI total slightly down this season with the lineup change.

She had 49 RBI last season.

“I broke the home run record last year with seven in a season, career home run record and slugging percentage,” she said. “All that is fun, but I’d rather win.”

Locked in a battle of a four-team race, Thompson and the Crusaders recently put the finishing touches on the MIAC championship, which proved to be the school’s six straight league title between the MIAC and Metro conference, which the school left in 2008. Now the attention will turn to the postseason in less than two weeks.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Thompson, whose team has never escaped the district round in her tenure. “We’ve seen so much progress through the past couple of weeks. I’m so proud of far we’ve come. Taking on a bunch of freshman, I thought this might be a down, year but we have gotten so much better it’s unbelievable.

“Our goal is to make a run to Battle Creek,” added Thompson, who could see time at shortstop, catcher and second base in college. ”If we can get past (Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes), then I think we can have a shot at it.”

The Crusaders’ first-round game next Saturday at home could prove to be the team’s toughest hurdle. State-ranked Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Unified is a senior-laden team with a lot of success this season, winning 31 games, including the CHSL title, and has several players from the school’s state championship basketball and soccer teams on the softball roster.

Northwest has only three returning starters off last year’s squad that lost in the district finals to Marine City Cardinal Mooney. Still with a player like Thompson in the lineup, nothing is impossible.

Along with a solid bat, she’s also a strong-armed and sure-handed shortstop with a laser of an arm throwing around the horn.

“People always ask, ‘where’s she’s playing in college?,’” said Ludwig. “She’s such a well-rounded player. It doesn’t take long to spot her.”

Last summer, Thompson was one of the 150 players from around the Midwest invited to the Queen of Diamonds Camp at Kent State University, a sign of her all-around talents. This year she is the likely MIAC MVP and a lock to earn All-State First Team honors for the second straight season and to become a four-time all-stater.

“Kirsten is such a talent and a great leader for such a young team,” said Ludwig. “I don’t think we’d be where we are today without her.”

The one thing that has eluded Thompson in her prep career is a district trophy and a long postseason run. The last time the Crusaders won a district, Thompson was in the eighth grade.

“It’s a challenge, but I think if we play well we can do it,” said Thompson of the postseason. “We’ve come close the past couple of years. I know we are young this year, but if we play well and bring our A-game, then we’ll have a shot.”

ARMED AND READY: Regardless if it's in the filed, at the plate or in the dugout, Kirsten Thompson of Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest is one of the area'sbest. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

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Tags: Athlete of the Week June 1, high school softball, Kirsten Thompson, Prep Softball, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest Softball, softball

Category: BWW Athlete of the Week, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW