Outlook: Known for her quick reactions on defense, junior Kendra Power is aggressive on the bases and versatile at the plate.
"Over the past year, Kendra has really grown in the mental aspect of her game," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "Kendra made a strong statement at third base in the fall and I think she will provide a real threat to our opponents this season."
2004: In 109 at bats, Power recorded the team's second highest number of doubles (eight). Once on base, the speedy sophomore managed to steal eight bags on 10 attempts for the third highest stolen base percentage (.800) and second highest total stolen bases. In one of her strongest games at the plate, Power pounded her final double of the season on May 2 at home against Texas Tech. Power finished the game with two hits in two at-bats, scoring two runs and stealing one base. Power went yard twice on the season, blasting her first homerun on Feb. 14 against Santa Clara and second against Kansas on April 7. Helping advance the Tigers to their first Big 12 Softball Conference Championship game since 1997, Power had one of Missouri's five hits in the 13-inning win against Oklahoma in the semifinals May 15 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Power made her 36th start of the season at third base against Oklahoma on May 15 in the Big 12 Championship semifinal game. Batting behind Kathy Masterson, the two recorded back-to-back singles to left field to get in scoring position and score Missouri's first two runs of the game. Playing in the NCAA Regional tournament in Los Angeles, Power had one hit against Louisville on May 20.
2003: Freshman Kendra Power started 25 of the 29 games she appeared in, holding a .246 batting average, with two doubles, one home run and nine RBI. Stealing six bases on 10 attempts, Power managed a .914 fielding percentage for the 2003 season. In her first game as a Tiger, Power went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and one stolen base against Chattanooga on Feb. 7. Scoring two runs against Kentucky on Feb. 14, Power was 1-for-2 later going 2-for-3 with a double and a homerun and three RBI against New Mexico State on Feb. 22. Making a start in center field against Oklahoma State on April 12, Power had a hit in each of the two games against UMKC on April 15 and two hits in each of the two games of the doubleheader with Kansas on April 21. Against Baylor at the Big 12 Conference Tournament on May 2, Power had a two-run double and scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. During the summer of 2002, Power was a member of the "KC Peppers" summer traveling team that finished in the top 16 at the ASA Gold Nationals.
Park Hill High School: A member of the Park Hill team, Power helped her team to a fourth place finish at the Missouri state championships her senior year (2002) receiving first team All-Conference honors as well as first team all-district and first team all-state. Throughout her four years at Park Hill, Power played shortstop under head coach John Orlowski, taking honorable mention all-district honors as a freshman and both all-district and all-conference honors her remaining three years as a Trojan (2000-02).
Personal: Kendra Power was born Aug. 30, 1983, in Johnson County, Kan., to parents Kevin Power and Kathy Rockitt. Kendra has three sisters, Amanda (20), Ember (16) and Summer (11) and two brothers, Ethan (7) and Blaine (3). Power is a communication major.
