BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF

Jamie Smyth, the softball coach at Division III St. Joseph's College, never saw Kiera Walsh pitch during her career at Lawrence High School.

When Walsh arrived on campus this past fall, Smyth realized what he had, and that was cemented when Walsh pitched a fall game against the University of Maine.

"She pitched the whole game, and I think she lost 5-1 or 6-1," Smyth said. "There was one inning where she gave up a three-run homer, but the rest of the game, for the most part, she was able to hold down a Division I program."

Walsh has continued to perform at that level against Division III competition this spring. In 12 games, 11 of them starts, she is 9-3 with a 2.09 ERA and 50 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 77 innings.

With the college schedule compressed into such a short time, St. Joe's has already played 22 games. Most of them are in doubleheaders, and Walsh is now starting the first game of twinbills, making her the ace of the staff as a freshman.

"I always want to put my (top) pitcher out there in the first game of the doubleheader," Smyth said. "That's going to give you a chance to win. She's been outstanding, to be honest with you."

Walsh's junior season at Lawrence was plagued by back problems. Although she has a high workload, those problems appear to be in the past.

"It's completely healed," Walsh said. "It hasn't bothered me since I've been at school, and it didn't bother me my senior year."

Walsh reportedly worked on 10 different pitches in high school, but has changed her repertoire at St. Joe's to deal with the stronger lineups and the presence of more power hitters.

"I throw a lot more curveballs and changeups than I did in high school, and I throw a lot more drops," Walsh said.

Added Smyth, who does not call Walsh's pitches: "She has an above-average fastball, velocity-wise, for college, but she's also got a really good changeup. She's probably got one of the better changeups I've seen in 11 years here, in terms of hiding it."

Walsh is majoring in biology with a focus on pre-dental. The interest in biology, she said, came from Lawrence teacher Kevin Malady.

"He was the best teacher I ever had," Walsh said. "He made it really interesting."

Walsh's curiosity about dentistry also developed around that time.

"I had braces when I was in high school, and I wanted to be an orthodontist," she said. "I really loved my orthodontist appointments. Everything the doctor did, it was really interesting."

As for softball, Walsh plans to pitch all four years, and her potential combined with what she has already accomplished has Smyth understandably excited.

"She has good work ethic, good durability, good mechanics," Smyth said. "I'm ecstatic that she's this young and really is performing at a great level for someone her age."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com