Kacie Easley sent out a tweet on Thursday morning saying, “Can we just play already?” Another one read, “Some say I'm too competitive but I would rather die than lose in my racquetball class.”

A day before the opening of the 2013 Angelo State softball season, the social media comments from the Rambelle catcher provides insight into a player that loves the game, her team and is motivated to succeed in everything she does. Easley comes into her senior season as one of the most decorated players in Angelo State softball history and is approaching all-time career records. But more importantly, she has earned the unwavering trust from her teammates and coaches in a sport that requires collective focus and drive.

“We all trust each other and the reason for that is we all come out here every day to work hard,” Easley said. “Trust builds when everyone sees that each person is here for the team and not just going through the motions. Success for us comes by us working hard for each other.”

Trust has been produced by Easley in everything she does. She is a vocal leader who encourages and believes in her teammates, and also a leader who guides her team with her strong play on the field and composure in adverse situations.  

“It's a relief to have a catcher like Kacie,” ASU pitcher Mary Kate McKay said. “You have to have trust. She is just an outstanding person on and off the field and is really smart about the game. There's been a lot of situations where she'll call timeout during a game and come calm me down by saying the right things in the right moment.”

Easley has played in 183 games since arriving to San Angelo from Temple High School. Right from the beginning, she was a star and a leader who has helped the Rambelles to a 143-40 record the past three years. The only game she did not start came on Feb. 15, 2010 in a win over Texas-Permian – she came into the game though and delivered an RBI single and scored a run.

“I've learned that confidence is about 90 percent of it and if you believe in yourself and the team then you're going to succeed,” Easley said. “We are out here every day preparing and believing. I'm confident in the team and love the way we are coming together. We are hungry and ready to play.”

She hit 16 home runs as a freshman and was named an All-American along with being the Lone Star Conference's Freshman of the Year and first-team catcher. Three years later, Easley is now a two-time All-American and is only seven home runs away from tying Macy Baker's career record of 39 career home runs.

“Any time you have a senior catcher that has started since she got on campus, it really does give you another coach on the field,” ASU head coach Travis Scott said. “She helps out with the mental aspect of the game and she is a great hitter. She is a team leader who is vocal and works as hard as anybody. There's really nothing negative you can say about Kacie.”

Always possessing a strong arm, Easley has worked on her footwork and quickness to eliminate would-be base stealers. She enters this season having gunned down 34 runners and is only two away from establishing a new ASU record. Laura Lopez holds the all-time record by throwing out 35 runners from 2007-09.

“She does a great job of getting the ball out quick,” Scott said. “She has developed great footwork and isn't going to let anybody we play run all over us.”

Coming off a junior season where she led the Rambelles with 65 hits and helped them to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional finals, Easley and her team are ready to maintain and exceed the level of dominance the program is known for. She experienced the NCAA DII National Championship Finals as a freshmen and wants to go back. The preseason work has been put in and now the season begins.

“I've been a part of three great teams that have played at a high national level,” Easley said. “You work for it and you believe in it, but you never just expect it. We don't take anything for granted out here. To be a part of this program is incredible. I'm so glad I came here because of the way we all come together and work together.”

Easley and the Rambelles open the season with a pair of games on Friday at the St. Mary's Tournament. ASU's day starts at noon against East Central before playing at 4 p.m. against St. Edward's.