San Jose Sting

(06-10) 20:08 PDT -- In a near-perfect season in the circle, Mitty pitcher Keilani Ricketts' only loss came in her finest performance.

The junior struck out 21, walked none and gave up only one hit, a home run in the 10th inning that allowed Notre Dame-Belmont to beat the Monarchs 1-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League playoff final.

The shutdown performance against one of the best lineups in the region was noteworthy, but Mitty coach Sarah Thomas was more impressed by the way her pitcher handled the defeat.

"The way she reacted, it was all about her team," Thomas said.

Ricketts, The Chronicle's Metro Player of the Year, arrived on the softball field late after her basketball team was busy winning the Division II state title. She didn't show any signs of rust.

Sharing starts with two other pitchers, including her sister Stephanie, Ricketts finished 11-1 and allowed only two earned runs in 87 innings pitched (0.30 ERA). She had 172 strikeouts and gave up 14 walks.

Ricketts, who already has committed to Oklahoma, brings a Randy Johnson-type intimidation to the mound. A left-hander who is 6-foot-2, Ricketts has had her fastball clocked at 67 miles per hour - but it is not merely speed that makes her difficult to hit.

Thomas says the movement Ricketts has on her pitches is as important as the speed.

"She doesn't get enough credit for how hard she is to catch," Thomas said

A fast, athletic player for her size, Ricketts was dominant with the bat and on the basepaths. She hit .525 for the season and had an RBI triple in the first inning of Mitty's 3-0 win over Presentation in the Central Coast Section Division II title game.

"She was a huge element for us in our lineup," Thomas said. "We lost four big bats last year and she totally stepped up. She hit third in our lineup. She hit for power and she turned singles into doubles with her speed."