Carson High alumna and Oregon redshirt junior Kailee Luschar fires in a throw from the outfield during a game this spring. Luschar leads the Ducks’ softball team in batting average (.435) and stolen bases (21) this spring.
There wasn’t much doubt that Carson High softball stars Kailee and Kedre Luschar were going to major pieces for a big-time collegiate program one day.
Kailee, who was the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year, and Kedre, who was the Class 5A North offensive player of the year as a senior in 2021, have both found their home with Oregon softball.
After taking two of three from No. 9 Washington last weekend, the sisters have helped push Oregon softball into the top 20 in the latest national softball rankings.
“That’s the first time we’ve taken a series from Washington since coach (Melyssa) Lombardi has been coaching here at Oregon,” said Kedre. “They’re good and it’s awesome that we were able to take the series.”
MAKING NATIONAL NEWS
Kailee has been making waves this season as the Ducks’ leadoff hitter.
The slapper has put together a .435 batting average this spring with 54 hits in 36 games played. She’s started every contest and leads the team in steals, swiping 21 bags on 26 attempts.
Her .435 clip is 31st in the country and the 21 stolen bases has her tied for 17th in the NCAA’s top division.
“I got my chance to prove myself last year and I feel like I’ve just been rolling with it,” said Kailee.
It certainly wasn’t an easy path into the starting lineup as Kailee battled through a fracture in her hand after getting hit by a pitch last season.
The injury kept her from catching or hitting, but the redshirt junior eventually forced her way into the starting lineup.
“I just stayed ready for that moment. I think I started last year at Oregon State and then just gave them a reason to put me in every game. That’s all you can do in that scenario,” said Kailee.
Kailee originally started her journey at Arizona State, but transferred to Oregon prior to the 2022 season.
Getting a chance to play alongside her sister was a dream come true.
“I was so excited. It’s so much fun playing with Ked. It’s surreal, you can’t even put it into words,” said Kailee. “It means a lot to our family. They can come to a lot of games because we’re together.”
Growing up playing through the rigors of travel softball, being in the same place wasn’t always a guarantee.
The two were almost always on different teams and even played against each other once.
“We’d get lucky to be in the same tournament together (growing up),” said Kedre. “Playing with your best friend, it literally couldn’t get any better.”
TEAMING UP FOR A WIN
One of the more special moments for the pair came against Kailee’s former school in Arizona State.
In late March, the Ducks turned to Kedre to pinch-hit in the fourth inning.
The junior belted a triple, knocking in two runs and turning the lineup over to her sister — and the Ducks’ top hitter.
Kailee plated Kedre with an RBI single up the middle of the field, which turned into the deciding run in a 5-4 victory.
Learning to come off the bench in crucial spots has been an adjustment for Kedre, who had 20 extra-base hits in 18 games as a senior at Carson.
“We have been telling her to be ready because she'll get an opportunity at a key moment,” said Lombardi after the win over ASU. “Seeing her come in and drive that run in, that's what Kedre can do.”
STAYING READY
Trying to find a routine when at-bats aren’t a guarantee has been a psychological adjustment.
“Just being mentally prepared every single inning, every single game. … It is really hard to be a pinch-hitter and go in in the bottom of the sixth or seventh and get a hit off a pitcher without making an adjustment because you haven’t seen them yet,” said Kedre.
Kedre, who has four hits and four RBIs in 17 at-bats, said maturing through the process has helped her continue to stay ready for the moments she may be called on.
With less than a month until the PAC-12 conference tournament — which will be played at Stanford — the sisters want to play as deep into the postseason as they possibly can.
“Our coach always says go farther than we’ve gone before, so we’re looking to be in the women’s College World Series in June,” Kedre said.
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(Kedre Luschar, a Carson High School alumna, lines a pinch-hit triple against Arizona State in late March. Luschar has four RBIs this season in 17 at-bats and has swiped a pair of bases for the nationally ranked Oregon softball team. / Courtesy Oregon Athletics Communications)