Hall of Fame
A native of Fowler, Michigan, O’Rourke made an immediate impact as a member of the Alma College softball program. Kelly was a three-season star at Fowler High School and quickly adapted to the college game. A four-year letter winner for the Scots who roamed centerfield, and became an All-American slapper.
Her freshman year, Kelly started out batting .290 and was voted the team’s Most Improved Player. However, speed is where Kelly earned her stripes. As a sophomore Kelly started in centerfield and was the leadoff hitter on a team which finished second in the MIAA with a record of 11-3 and 29-13 overall. She was the Alma College batting champion at .371 and stole 27 bases including four in one game. For her efforts, she was voted First Team All-MIAA and Third-Team All-American.
In her junior year Kelly was part of an MIAA Championship as the team went 14-2 in league play and 30-11 overall. Kelly was voted First Team All-MIAA, batting .435 with 57 hits, 22 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and 28 stolen bases.
As a senior, Kelly led the team to another MIAA Championship, earning MIAA Most Valuable Player honors as the Scots posted a 14-2 record in MIAA play and 35-8 overall. She continued to place her name in the record book, batting .439 with 20 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 61 hits, and 29 stolen bases. Kelly finished her career at Alma with a third straight selection to the All-MIAA First Team and was also a Second Team All-Region selection.
Kelly compiled one of the best careers in Alma College Softball and still ranks in the top 10 in multiple categories: games played (7th, 158); runs scored (2nd, 158); hits (3rd, 189), batting average (4th, .397), walks (3rd, 55), and stolen bases (2nd, 98).
