Career Resume
Starting pitcher for the Yellowjackets in inaugural season (2001)
Cornerstone for future success in Yellowjacket softball
6.89 career earned run average in 22 appearances
Played in 54 games, starting in 53
Career fielding percentage of .864
Feature Story: Ex-West Standout Kamee Love Comes out of Retirement (By: Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette, 3/29/2001) - Original Publication
Ed Kriskovich had some good news.
Standing among rows of videos at a local store, Kamee Love listened as Kriskovich confirmed the rumor that had been floating around the softball community for more than a year. Yes, Montana State-Billings was going to start a softball program.
"Maybe I could play," offered Love.
"Maybe you can help out and coach," replied her former high school coach.
Love tried to shield her reaction.
"It hurt a little," said Love, recalling the moment. "He didn't mean anything bad by it. It was just the tone of his voice. Right then, I felt too old."
No, she wasn't. Missing the game Love had stopped playing fast-pitch competitive softball the spring of 1994 after one year at Jamestown College in North Dakota.
"That seems so long ago," said Love, who was then Kamee Lambrecht.
She returned to Billings, started working three jobs and stopped going to school. She met her husband, Tom Love, and they eventually married in the summer of 1998.
All the time, she missed softball.
"The day I quit playing softball is the day I missed it," Love said.
The ache to play again became worse every time she drove past the softball fields at 10th and Central Ave., where Billings West used to practice.
"I would drive by and see them practicing. That was tough," said Love, who tried to fill her competitive niche with some slow-pitch play.
The intensity just wasn't the same.
Planning a return
When softball became official at MSU Billings, Kriskovich urged Love to contact new coach Jeff Aumend. Love had already returned to school, pursuing a degree in mathematics and computers.
The potential player and the MSUB coach alternated leaving messages for each before contact was made.
"At the time, it was 'Come one, come all,'" said Aumend, who officially began his coaching duties the Monday after Labor Day and was scrambling to put together a team. "I wanted to scour the community and school for anybody with softball experience.
"But someone who hadn't pitched in six years, I had my doubts. Pitching is probably the toughest skill on the field. This player, at the time, will have the biggest learning curve just to get back to where she was.
"I felt she had long road for two reasons: A, to get back where she was; and B, to take it to another level."
Love and the rest of the newcomers began conditioning drills after school in the fall.
"I didn't know what to expect," the 25-year-old Love said of the early sessions. "I always stayed in shape, I just wasn?t sure which body parts would function the next day.
"But those first couple of weeks of conditioning, I wasn't the only one who was sore or out of shape," she added with a good laugh.
Back on the field
Love was a shortstop for the Billings West varsity team. She had pitched during her freshman and sophomore years but her innings tapered off the final two years. Love also pitched at Jamestown.
But Aumend wasn't sure what to make of the player who never frowned.
"Kamee is the smilingest softball player I've ever been around," Aumend said. "At first, I didn't like it. Did she take the game seriously? But after getting to know her, she just laughs off bad plays and is ready to do her job again."
The learning curve has been steep. Strictly a fastball pitcher, Love had to learn a variety of throws for the next level.
Her primary weapon is her drop pitch, followed by an off-speed offering and a recently added riser.
"She's a fierce competitor," said Aumend. "She is intrinsically motivated.
"Here's something that tells you about Kamee. The first game against Dawson (Community College) this fall, this girl rips two doubles against her on her fastballs. A week later, we go to Glendive and Kamee strikes her out twice with a variety of pitches."
To prepare for the spring season, Love, Downs and Amy Dosch had early morning work-out sessions with Kriskovich at West High, starting at 6 a.m.
"I had no idea why I was doing that," Love said with another laugh. "If I could sleep to noon, I would. We just pitched to become consistent. I don't have the speed or velocity like other pitchers."
Fitting in
At 25, Love is one of a handful of players who are in their mid-20s. And the younger players are quick to remind about the age gap.
"A couple of them give me a hard time. They think they're pretty funny," said Love. "One time, myself, Heather Davis and Christy Kahler were doing this little hitting drill and Meghan O'Donnell comes over and says, 'Look, it's the old ladies' club.'
"They all dish it out."
The payoff
The Lady Yellowjackets opened their inaugural season with 19 straight losses, 11 to nationally-ranked teams.
This past weekend Love pitched MSUB to a pair of wins over Dickinson State for the first official victories for the program. Dosch also pitched a win against Dawson on Sunday. For throwing two complete games, striking out 13 and allowing just four earned runs, Love was selected the Pacific West Conference player of the week.
"That was great," Love said of the first win. "We've played really well since the first game. My catcher (Kirsten Wilson) is amazing. She knows exactly what pitch I need to throw. Our team is good at helping each other.
"My rise ball was working. I got more confident in it … about a week ago."
Love also plays in the outfield for the Lady Jackets.
But just being there is good enough.
"I'm having a blast," said Love, who continues to balance school, softball and two jobs. "I love being around softball again. It's not very often you get a second chance to do something you love.
"I don't know if I can have any more fun. I plan to be back next year. If they still want an old lady on the team."
As a player, not a coach.
