Being one of only two upperclassmen, Westbrook's Kaitlin MacMillan knew this season was going to be a challenge. But Kaitlin is doing everything in her power to help rebuild the Knights on the fly while her own career will be built up on the biggest stage this summer.

Kaitlin, the Knights' junior starting pitcher, owns the task of molding and shaping a young softball team looking to find itself in the Shoreline Conference. The team's hurler since her freshman season, Kaitlin tosses knowledge and advice at her teammates with the same velocity she paints the corners with her fastball. Kaitlin currently has her sights set on guiding Westbrook towards a state-tournament run in the second half of the season, after which she will get prepped for her potential college career by playing with the Worcester Hawks under Ralph Raymond, former USA Olympic softball coach who led the red, white, and blue to gold medals in 1996 and 2000.

"It really started to sink in for me when I started getting more college coaches getting in contact with me. [Playing for Raymond] really opened up for a lot doors," Kaitlin says. "Just being able to have communication with big schools really opened up doors I didn't know I had."

Kaitlin has aspirations of becoming a Division I pitcher after she graduates from Westbrook and college coaches would be wise to take note of what she is doing for the Knights, as well as the Hawks. While playing on the national circuit with the Hawks this summer will certainly get Kaitlin the exposure she needs to possibly earn a spot on a big-time college roster, the work she;s currently putting in with the Knights reveals much more about her than a scouting report ever could.

Westbrook is 2-8 this season with eight freshmen, one junior in Kaitlin, and only one senior. Expectations have been tamed a bit after a slow first half, but Kaitlin has remained positive and focused on the task at hand, not dodging her responsibilities with the Knights while looking towards this summer with the Hawks.

"First of all, she is a very dedicated player and that alone shows the girls what hard work does and where it gets you," said Westbrook Coach Caitlin Eichler. "She obviously plays in the offseason so she works really hard and she applies the skills she learns in practice as pitcher. She is very helpful, always helping the younger girls, telling them where to go, what to do, and where to play. She moves the outfield in, out, right, or left, depending on the batter. Kaitlin is very patient as every good leader is and she is always motivated to do well. Overall, she is a solid player and I think a lot of girls look up to her and see what they can become if they put in the hard work in any sport."

Throwing five different pitches-a straight fastball, two-seam fastball, change-up, curveball, and a drop ball-Kaitlin has the tools to not only lead Westbrook's rebuilding project, but to also build a college career of her own. According to Kaitlin, she is currently working on her arm strength in an effort to create a larger disparity between her fastballs and off-speed pitches.

"I like to move the ball a lot," she says. "The more movement I have helps me knowing when I come inside I can come in with a good hard fastball."

And Kaitlin believes her pitching, mixed with the experience Westbrook's athletes are gaining this season, will only better the team moving forward.

"I absolutely believe we will be so much better next year," says Kaitlin. "We have four sophomores that start varsity coming back and my entire infield is coming back. Already, they've made so much improvement throughout the season that next year we are really going to be awesome."

Between this summer and the start of the 2013 campaign, Kaitlin's focus will be with the Hawks as one of their three starting pitchers. According to Kaitlin, working with Raymond and the Hawks has already generated interest from Stetson University, Siena College, Seton Hall, and Merrimack College, prompting Kaitlin to say, "Ralph Raymond was the first Olympic coach for USA softball and it is a pretty big opportunity for me to be working with him."

Eichler believes that with the exposure and training she is receiving this summer, along with the leadership she has displayed at Westbrook, that Kaitlin most certainly can succeed on the next level.

"I told her from day one she has the build, motivation, and drive to do well, and obviously, she has the natural talent to throw the ball very well," Eichler said. "If she continues to work hard and continues to play with teams outside of the Shoreline Conference in the summer and fall, I really see her playing in college and being very successful as long as she works hard and continues to grow."

Also a forward on the girls' basketball team and a member of the peer counseling and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America clubs, Kaitlin is an honor roll student who takes honors anatomy and physiology and Algebra II. She wants to throw harder on her way to a college team, but also tossed up meatball piece of advice for her younger teammates to hit.

"I really stress to them that if you make a mistake, brush it off-there are plenty of chances to make up for your mistake," Kaitlin says. "This is a learning season and we are going to try new things that might not be comfortable so keep your head up and try your best. Work on yourself and make sure you are a better person for the team."