When she's not pitching in, Kwasek plays the field for Mount Ida

Batting in the cleanup spot, the former Framingham High standout is leading the Mustangs in hitting while taking the mound nearly every game as the squad's No. 1 pitcher. She also sees time on the right side of the infield, at second and first base, when she's not pitching. But that doesn't happen very often, after a season-ending injury to Kim Hurley, the team's second starter.

Kwasek, who holds 13 program records, was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference weekly honor roll after stroking 13 hits in 28 at-bats (with no strikeouts and four walks) over a 10-game stretch, with two doubles, two homers, and five RBIs. She also racked up five victories in six decisions.

"Being a team MVP shows I keep progressing and that I help my team out," said Kwasek, a criminal justice major. "Of course I get tired at times, but my adrenaline and knowing the team needs me keeps me going."

Her versatility and talent resulted in Kwasek being named by the league's coaches to the conference's All-Star team last spring as a first-team utility player.

"That honor meant a lot because of the recognition from my coach and the other coaches in our conference," said Kwasek, who captained the Framingham High team her senior season. Her brother, John Jr., a three-sport athlete at Framingham High, is the senior captain of the Flyers boys' lacrosse team this spring.

"My goals now are to help our team win and get to the conference playoffs, and hopefully that will help me repeat on the all-conference team."

Through 20 games this spring, Kwasek was making a strong bid to reach her goals, while the team was 6-14 overall and 4-6 in the conference going into this week's schedule. She was leading the Mustangs in seven offensive categories, including average (.393), home runs (4), hits (22) and runs batted in (11). She also had a 5-6 record and 3.45 earned-run average, the lowest of her college career. In 129 career games, Kwasek has a .344 batting average with 16 homers and 94 RBIs.

Katie Zuman, in her second season as Mount Ida's head coach, said it isn't possible for Kwasek to be nominated for honors at just one position.

"She was all over the field for us last year and this year, and with our first baseman, Erin Dufficy, getting a shot at pitching now, Kerri will be moved from second base to first base," said Zuman, who as a Mount Ida assistant scouted Kwasek during her high school days, when she played only shortstop.

Kwasek's softball resume changed permanently during her freshman year at Mount Ida, when she pitched for the first time in several years because of an injury to a teammate and immediately showed good velocity and the ability to throw strikes. She was moved from shortstop to second base last season - when she batted .393 with 6 homers and 41 RBIs - to reduce the stress on her arm.

"Going back to the mound was a big transition after so many years," said Kwasek, who holds 10 career offensive records and three career pitching marks, "and I had to focus on my accuracy and hitting my spots. I worked out and lifted in the off-seasons to strengthen my arm, and now my fastball is my best pitch and my accuracy has helped lower my earned-run average."