East Hamilton softball coach Norma Nelson knew she had a situation last fall.
She didn't have a pitcher for the spring season. Of the two she had last year, one graduated and the other transferred during the summer.
Tori Barnes, the Lady Hurricanes' starting shortstop the past three seasons, is now starting in the circle.
"I've never had this happen," said Nelson, who collected her 700th career victory last week. "I've always had one (pitcher), and I can't remember a time where I didn't know what to do if something happened."
Barnes, who has committed to play for Lincoln Memorial University as a middle infielder, volunteered to learn the intricacies of pitching. She worked with a pitching coach beginning last fall and continued through the winter months.
"I had a little experience pitching when I was little," said Barnes, who plays infield for the Frost Falcons '97 during the summer. "My first pitching lesson wasn't awful, but there was a lot of stuff that needed to be improved."
She also invested in ice.
"My arm was pretty sore from the lessons. My legs were pretty sore," she said. "To this day, I still ice my arm."
The Lady Hurricanes were 3-1 heading into their game Thursday, with Barnes having pitched in every inning of the season.
"She was already a starter, so she didn't have to do this," Nelson said. "For the most part, she's done a good job.
"I don't know where we'd be without her."
Barnes last pitched consistently about the same time she played middle school basketball. She gave up that game to play more softball. Now she's given up her favorite position on the diamond -- and spot she'll play at the next level -- for the benefit of her high school teammates.
"I'm actually loving it," Barnes said. "It's been great. I knew that I'd work at it and I could help the team get us some wins.
"But being the only pitcher is pretty stressful."
Nelson asked other members of her team if they'd like to try their hand at pitching. Seven volunteered.
"Most kids, when they were 9 or 10, thought they were going to be a pitcher," Nelson joked. "I think we have two or three who can throw strikes.
"We'll hit it good and we'll play good defense, but you need to have somebody who can throw strikes."
It just so happens to be a shortstop.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.