By Krystle Bono
Nandua alum Kimberly Wert has not only found her stripes with the University of Missouri Tigers softball team, but is leading the pack.
The 2017 graduate attended Hofstra University as a freshman and played under the direction of coach Larissa Anderson with the Division I team to begin her collegiate softball career. When Anderson was offered the head coaching position with the Tigers, Wert made the decision to follow her coach.
Last season, Wert appeared in 32 games for Hofstra as a pinch hitter, smashing three homers as her first three collegiate hits, with her first being the game-winning three-run blast against North Florida last February. She finished her debut year with five home runs and 13 RBIs, and a .800 slugging percentage.
Wert has 18 games under her belt with the Division I Missouri and is the top performer for home runs with 6, RBIs with 16, and she currently sports a .311 hitting average.
In her last time out March 2, Wert launched one home run and 3 RBIs during 5 at-bats in the Tiger’s 9-8 loss to IUPUI, and she went 1-for-3 to contribute in the 11-1 win over Indiana State.
During her tenure with the Warriors, Wert earned the title of Eastern Shore District Player of the Year three straight years, aiding the Nandua club to three consecutive district and one conference championship. She was also a two-time all-conference selection.
Wert is majoring in health science and plans to become a physical therapist upon graduation.
The Tigers are back in action for a first-of-three on the road against Alabama beginning tonight (Friday) at 6:30 p.m.
Left-handed sniper and Chincoteague graduate Trey Fisher is now in his sophomore season with Old Dominion University Division I baseball team and helped his Monarch’s squad to a 12-5 win over Rutgers University March 2, earning Fisher his first career win on the bump, throwing 1.2 innings with 2 strikeouts and 2 hits at Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk.
The 6-foot Eastern Shore native threw a scoreless inning in the Monarch’s 5-4 loss during the second game against High Point Feb. 15. Fisher relieved the mound for the start of the ninth during the series finale against High Point Feb. 17, facing three batters and allowing one hit.
Fisher earned his first career save Feb. 24 over Binghamton, 12-9, helping the Monarchs to clinch their first series win since 2017.
In his first season with Old Dominion, Fisher pitched in 10 games with one start, with a 0-1 and 7.20 ERA. His collegiate debut was against William & Mary, in which he allowed a run on two hits in 1.1 innings.
Fisher played with the Ponies since his freshman year, where he made the Eastern Shore All-District team consecutively for three years and helped the Ponies claim back-to-back district championships and a flawless record. The Ponies also claimed the Conference 41 championship title during Fisher’s sophomore and junior seasons, and he was named Conference 41 Player of the Year and Eastern Shore Player of the Year in 2015.
Fisher is a sport management major.
The Monarchs begin a three-game away series this afternoon (Friday) at 3 p.m. against Kansas State at Tointon Stadium. They will be back at home March 12 to take on William & Mary at 6 p.m.
