Sele Ignites Cobber Offense And Program Future

Feature story written by Larry Scott

When Mike Reese was anointed head softball coach at Concordia College this year, he was well aware of the rebuilding that awaited. There were many question marks when he began to restock the roster and change the culture, but he quickly discovered a major exclamation point, too---Kaia Sele---and she was more than willing to lighten the load.

A three-year fixture in the Concordia starting lineup, Sele helped form the foundation for the new-look Cobbers, and Reese was grateful she would have one final season. She was all he expected, and more, and he is a card-carrying member of the Sele Fan Club.

"She's a gamer, all-out, all-in, all the time," Reese said. "She is a very smart player who brings the total game. She's a coach on the field for us, a leader by example. Kaia is talented with great skills with a great attitude, but she gave up a lot to make our program better."

"This is why we coach, to have players like this."

Sele excelled in hockey and softball for Bemidji High School Lumberjacks and pocketed all-conference and academic all-state hockey honors. It appeared her college athletic future would be on ice.

"I was recruited by the hockey coach and I was going to play both sports at Concordia," Sele said.

She settled on softball, with no regrets. "Spring break in Florida or Arizona sounded better than another week at the hockey rink," said Sele.

Sele started for the Cobbers in 2009, but admitted she was less than an overnight success and faced a substantial learning curve. "I had to adjust to a new level of pitching and a new level of play in college," Sele said, "and I became more mentally tough. A positive attitude got me through the first year and adjusting to college softball."

During her three-plus years with the Cobbers, the Bemidji native has put up Paul Bunyan-like numbers, including Concordia career records for base hits (153) and home runs (21), and owns the longest batting streak in Concordia history (18 games). She also earned all-conference honors twice and was a finalist for the MIAC Player of the Year award last season.

Sele had a career year in 2012 as she placed third in the MIAC batting race with a .459 average in conference play. She also batted .459 for Concordia in all 35 games she played in and had six home runs, 29 RBI, 82 total bases and a whopping .752 slugging percentage. Always the complete player, she was a defensive rock at first base as well with only three errors all season.

Sele's measured plate presence and unshakeable confidence has had much to do with her success. "If I see a good pitch, I'll hit it, but if I don't get my pitch I'll take a walk. I don't mind walking; I just want to get on base."

Reese admires her plate discipline and willingness to wait, if necessary, for the ideal pitch to hit. "Kaia knows what she wants in life, and at the plate," Reese said. "She's just as comfortable with an 0-2 count as a 3-0 count; she knows what not to swing at."

An especially cruel and long winter shortened the long-awaited season of 2013. For Sele and her softball pals this was not what they dreamed and prepared so diligently for, especially the seniors. "It's been a really rough, trying season, but we can't dwell on it. I hope our tenacity will bring us through."

Once again, Sele generates much of the Cobber offensive electricity, and tops the Cobbers in batting average (.309), runs scored (14), home runs (5), RBI (16), total bases (42) and slugging percentage (.618).

Sele made her final home appearance on Tuesday and exited in style. She enjoyed the going away party and clubbed a pair of home runs in a non-conference doubleheader split with Valley City State. "It was great, and the team played well, but it was a bummer to lose that last game."

Sele is well aware there may be some separation anxiety when she leaves Concordia and the Cobber athletic family.

"I will certainly miss competing in sports, and I will miss the college atmosphere. It's such a welcoming atmosphere at Concordia, and I have enjoyed all my professors. They really care about you."

A Mathematics major and Economics minor, Sele eyes a career in business, but a coaching opportunity would be enticing as well, especially at Concordia. "I really enjoy coaching, and would love to work with coach Reese. He's been a great mentor for me and I'd be honored to have the opportunity to work with him someday."

Sele is sold on her new coach and clearly sees brighter days ahead for Cobber softball.

"He's so focused, and he's always looking to the future and he'll do what it takes to make the program better. Coach Reese knows what he wants and he's worked very hard for us girls. He's not afraid to push the right buttons and I believe in what he's doing."

"He looked to us to embrace the program and set the stage for Cobber Softball 2.0.It would be a whole team effort. This is different, and I can see real good things happening."