Lady Wave shortstop Stacy Kalt signs with Virginia Tech

The collegiate softball recruiting trip has taken a full circle in Fallon.

Twenty-four years ago, Michael Bastian helped Lady Wave standout Jodi Dolan secure a scholarship to Ohio State University, and now he has done the same thing by helping Stacy Kalt sign with Virginia Tech, another Division I program that has qualified for the NCAA postseason seven times during the past 12 years.

Bastian has spent many years of international and domestic coaching, gives clinical and professional speaking engagement experience and worked with the Chinese Olympic Softball Team in 2005. Now, he has helped Kalt move onto the next level. Kalt played for the 2018 Team TFS Colorado Sparkers, and according to her father Alan, she competed well in showcase tournaments to get noticed by major colleges.

The TFS Northern Nevada in Sparks is managed by Fallon’s Brad and Jodi Dolan, and Team TFS organizations are affiliated with Bastian’s The Fastpitch School.

Stacy Kalt signed her letter of intent to play for the Hokies Thursday night at the Old Post Office before her family, friends and teammates from both her travelling and Lady Wave softball teams. She thanked Jodi Dolan, who first alerted Bastian to her play at shortstop and her desire to sign with a top-notch program. Sporting a Virginia Tech “VT” maroon and burnt orange ballcap with white lettering, Kalt reached out to her teammates.

“Thank you to my high school team,” she said. “The majority of my high school team were girls I played with since I was 8 years old. We were a bond never to be broken.”

Kalt will leave for Blacksburg, Va., in less than month to begin a new chapter in her life. Not only will softball be important for her but also the education she will receive at the Atlantic Coast Conference university. Kalt developed a good work ethic in Fallon, both in the classroom and on the field. Kalt and her senior teammates led Fallon to a miraculous ending to the 2018 season when the Lady Wave won their final 13 games of the season, capped with a win over Lowry (Winnemucca) for the state 3A title. She finished the season with a .447 batting average, 42 hits, 44 RBIs, 11 doubles and eight home runs. Fallon finished the season with a 27-9 record, 19-5 in league, and never lost a game since April 28 after Lowry defeated the Wave in Fallon, 4-3.

Alan Kalt beamed with pride at the signing, saying kids who grow up in a small town have the opportunity to go a prestigious program.

“What a great place to raise kids,” he said while thanking the Dolans and Bastian for having faith in Stacy’s abilities.

Alan Kalt said Stacy’s signing is a testament to her skills, which were developed in Fallon by a number of coaches who have had a positive impact on her.

Lady Wave coach Kasey Chu said Stacy Kalt had a big impact on the team. Although Kalt had her doubts of playing at the next level earlier this year, Chu said the Greenwave senior worked hard to become an integral part of Fallon’s success.

“No one is more deserving that Stacy in getting this scholarship,” said the first-year Greenwave coach and former Fallon player. “The senior class was the heart of the team.”

Although Chu coached Kalt for one season, she said no one is more deserving than her all-region shortstop to receive the scholarship.

Bastian was equally impressed with Stacy Kalt, especially after seeing her play and talking with her. He said Jodi Dolan called him and said there’s a shortstop in Fallon who can play for a top university. Dolan, who still holds many softball records at OSU, said Kalt’s the best shortstop she has ever seen.

“And Jodi has seen some of the best in the world,” Bastian added. “I told her, ‘let’s make this happen.’”

As Bastian began to work with the Fallon infielder, he felt confident he could find her a home. Pete D’Amour, who was hired in late May at Virginia Tech, relied on Bastian’s assessments and video and offered the Lady Wave standout an opportunity play at Virginia Tech. In two years at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, D’Amour compiled a 79-37 record and was named coach of the year after the 2018 season.

“Her video played a big role in giving her an opportunity to go to Virginia Tech,” Bastian said.