Hendrickson High’s Kirsten Warner is the type of player who can do it all. Equally adept at pitching or playing the field, Warner displayed all her talents last week in helping the Hawks to a bi-district playoff win over Austin Crockett. She pitched a one-hitter in the first game of the best of three series then delivered two hits while playing centerfield in the second game, helping the Hawks get the sweep and advance to the area round.

“The playoffs bring new excitement,” Warner said. “They give a new vibe to the season. People start getting excited and I get excited when I get to the playoffs.”

Warner, a senior, said that even though the Hawks played Crockett in the playoffs last year they were unsure what to look for prior to this year’s matchup.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “We were hoping for the best. We tried to play as well as we could.”

As she has demonstrated for most of the year, Warner is equally comfortable on the mound or in the field. She played centerfield in the second game against Crockett but has also played third base this year for Hendrickson.

“I like both,” she said. “They are different aspects of the game. I can use my speed more in the outfield and when I’m on the mound I have to completely focused on my task the whole time.”

In her fourth and final year on the Hawk varsity Warner has tried to use her experience to help her young teammates. She is one of five Hendrickson seniors. The rest of the team is made up for sophomores and a freshman.

“I like being able to lead the other girls,” she said. “I try to use my experience to help the younger ones know what it’s like.”

Warner began playing t-ball when she was five years old.

“My parents signed me up,” she said. “I wanted to be like my brother.”

Warner says the competition is her favorite thing about playing. She will certainly get plenty of competition when she moves on to LeTourneau University in Longview where she will play her college ball.

“I really liked the coach,” she said of her decision to join the Yellow Jackets. “It was a good fit for me.”

In a season of ups and downs for the Hawks, the win over Crockett was certainly a high point.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Warner said. “But now we’re in our groove and playing to the best of our abilities. In order to keep up we have to bring our ‘A’ game on all levels.”