The recordbooks at Austin High School will forever be changed because of a 5-foot, 5-inch powerhouse pitcher named Amy Kelly.

Kelly rewrote 10 single-season and career categories en route to being named the 2003 All-Area Softball Player of the Year.

"She's the epitome of consistency," said AHS coach Todd Waterbury. "You pretty much know what you're going to get every time out. She's going to be tough to replace and she'll go down with a majority of the records.

"She's a winner, through and through."

Kelly heads the list of 14 All-Area first-teamers after setting the mark for the future of Packer pitching. Destined for the University of Minnesota at Duluth, Kelly carries with her Austin's career records with 73 wins, 613 strikeouts, 38 shutouts and 225 assists from the circle. She reset the bar with 669 innings played, 324 at-bats and 103 singles in her four-year career.

Austin advanced to the Class AAA State Softball Tournament twice with Kelly toeing the rubber.

"Each year you've seen a little step up as far as improvement," Waterbury said. "She's a true pitcher. She doesn't rely on speed, she uses location and movement to get people out."

This year's 0.74 earned run average raised her finishing career number to 0.55. Kelly's statistics this season ended with a 19-4 record, 156 strikeouts in 170 2/3 innings pitched, and just 28 walks in 25 games. Opponents hit .153 against her.

"She got that willingness to always get better," Waterbury said, "she's always learning, always looking to get better."

Kelly -- a four-time All-Big Nine Conference selection -- was also a career .320 hitter, completing this season at .305 with 14 RBIs.

"She's a very stoic figure," Waterbury said. "She doesn't let you know what her emotions are during the game."

Trio of Packers

Kelly is joined on the All-Area first team by a trio of fellow Packers, including batterymate Keri Feller. The junior catcher led this season's 21-4 Austin squad with a .360 batting average and 31 hits, but it was her defense that made her the best around.

Feller chalked up 24 assists in 25 games and threw out 50 percent of attempting basestealers, including a number of pickoffs from first and second base.

"It was just pretty to watch," Waterbury said of Feller's defensive prowess. "A lot of times we erased the opposing baserunners because of her abilities to pick them off.

"She was a terrific leader, what else would you want out of a catcher."

Feller fielded the ball at an alarmingly successful rate for a backstop, making 98 percent of the plays that came her way. After being a backup catcher and designated hitter as a sophomore, Feller took over the full-time role with gusto.

"The intangibles she brings to the field make her a notch above all the others," Waterbury said. "(Kelly and Feller) have got to be one of the best batteries Austin has ever had."

Austin's leadoff hitter Kylene Erstad and No. 9 hitter Steph Sundberg round out the Packers' picks for the All-Area first team. Erstad, a senior third baseman, had a down year offensively with a .287 average but provided the leadoff spark Austin often needed for a come-from-behind rally.

"In the end she really came through with some big plays," Waterbury said. "She was always trying to do what the team really needed her to do. She's as much of a team player as you're going to find."

Erstad hit .407 as a junior, spurred by a switch to the leadoff spot in the Packer batting order. This year, Austin's leadoff hitter scored 15 runs and had five doubles.

"I like to think of her as the ultimate team player," Waterbury added. "She really understands what the team's all about."

As does Sundberg, who made countless diving catches from her post in center field to save the Packer defense from surrendering a rare run. And batting ninth in the order for the last two years, Sundberg developed into her role as the second leadoff hitter.

"She certainly took control of the outfield and I like how she took control at the plate in the nine spot," Waterbury said. "She always started something. She really stepped up this year and was a big part of our success."

Sundberg hit .302 with two doubles, a triple and Austin's only home run (inside-the-park) this season.

Feller and Erstad were repeat All-Conference selections, while Sundberg made the list for the first time this year. Kelly, Erstad and Sundberg were also All-Section 1AAA picks.