Kailey Selvage pitched a perfect game for Shepard

Kailey Selvage, a talented pitcher from Shepard High School, had an impressive start to her senior season. On March 18, she pitched a perfect game against Homewood-Flossmoor, retiring all 18 batters she faced. This remarkable achievement included striking out 17 players, contributing to her team's 7-0 victory. Selvage recalled the moment during practice, saying she didn't realize the significance of her performance until late in the game. After the final strikeout, she celebrated with her catcher and lifelong friend, Madison Scapardine. "There was no better feeling than running up to her and both of us being excited," she said. Currently, Selbstage has accumulated 245 career strikeouts and is aiming to break the school record of 409, set by Kelly Greene in 2022. The previous record holder was Bridget McDermott, now the head coach of the Astros, who had 320 strikeouts. McDermott expressed pride in watching Selvage’s growth as a player. In her standout 2024 season, Selvage was named the South Suburban Red player of the year, finishing with a 14-5 record, 12 shutouts, and 196 strikeouts. She also batted .438. Her journey to becoming a staff ace included hard work and guidance from coaches, including attending sessions with a pitching coach to sharpen her skills. Scapardine noted Selvage's focused demeanor on the mound, saying, “Kailey will stare the batter down. She wants to dominate and she does.” Her determination and competitive spirit continue to impress teammates and coaches alike as she aims for more successes this season.