SLIPPERY ROCK — Teams are starting to fear Kalene Ireland, both at the plate and behind it.

The senior catcher on the Slippery Rock High softball team has shown the penchant for instantly scoring runs with her bat and taking them away with her arm.

“Kalene is doing an awesome job for us,” said first-year Slippery Rock softball coach Elma Anschutz. “She’s been a goldmine for us.”

Blessed with a powerful bat and an equally powerful arm, Ireland has been a mainstay behind the plate in the middle of the Rockets’ lineup for the better part of three seasons.

This year, however, she has truly blossomed.

On defense, no baserunner is safe from Ireland’s cannon. Against Grove City several weeks ago, she picked off three Eagles to kill potential rallies.

At the plate, Ireland is batting a team-leading .412 with eight doubles, two triples and six home runs for the surging Rockets, who are just two wins away from securing their first playoff spot since 2000 — or when Ireland was 5.

“I was totally surprised by the home runs this season,” Ireland said. “I hit only one last year.”

Ireland, though, is not surprised by the team’s recent success.

While an offseason strength training regime implemented by Anschutz has aided the power at the plate — Slippery Rock has 10 homers as a team and has scored eight or more runs in six consecutive games — Ireland said it brought the team closer together.

“It boosted our confidence,” Ireland said. “Everyone bonded together and became better teammates.”

Ireland said it was a loss to Hickory earlier in the season that actually gave her and the Rockets a shot in the arm.

Slippery Rock hosts Hickory Thursday in a game that may decide the playoff fate of both teams.

“We lost to Hickory, but we kept coming back on them,” Ireland said. “They’d get a huge lead, and we’d come back. We ended up losing, but it made us realize we could play with anyone.”

Ireland hit a home run in that game and would like nothing more than to add to her total this week with key games against Grove City and the Hornets.

Ireland hasn’t seen much success in her years with the Rockets. That has made this season extra special for her and the seven seniors on the roster.

“It’s been a little bit crazy,” she said. “We won two games last year. We haven’t had an experience like this before. This year, we’re more of a family. We’ve become much closer. It’s been a long time since this program made the playoffs. A long time. We’re all excited.”

Ireland is just trying to do her part.

She’s like to continue helping out long after she graduates.

Ireland will attend Slippery Rock University next season to play softball and study secondary education. She wants to coach softball.

And Anschutz wants her back.

“Hopefully, she’ll have time to help us out next year as a coach,” Anschutz said. “She’s very knowledgeable about the game.”

Ireland, though, has just one immediate goal: getting Slippery Rock to the playoffs no matter what it takes, not only for her, but for her friends.

“Us eight seniors, we grew up together,” Ireland said. “We’ve been through some rough years. I want us to go out on a positive note.”