One of college softball’s best pitchers is embracing new role on KC Diamonds
Like many seniors graduating from college, former Boston University softball pitcher Kasey Ricard had no idea what she wanted to do.
Ricard finished her collegiate softball career by leading BU to its fourth straight Patriot League title and finishing as the league’s all-time strikeouts leader. She established herself as one of the best mid-major pitchers in the country.
Her plan after graduation was to take a gap year with the intention of going to physician assistant school.
Ricard was aware of the Professional Softball League — her college teammate, second baseman Brooke Deppiesse, signed with the New York Rise — and she had received some interest from organizations but nothing concrete. So when the Kansas City Diamonds called with an offer to join the team for its inaugural season in the PSL, she jumped at the chance.
“I knew opportunities were coming for other people and on other teams, but I never thought that I would actually get the opportunity,” Ricard told The Star. “Being able to come out to Kansas City was a really great opportunity, and it just ended up working out perfectly.”
A week after walking across the stage in Boston, Ricard was on a flight to Missouri. She quickly joined the team’s open practice and community events in front of hundreds of Kansas City softball fans.
“Being able to see all the young kids come out and then even having older women come up to me and say, ‘I wish I had this when I was your age’ … it’s an experience that I never thought I would have,” Ricard said. “It’s like, wow, this community is ready for a professional women’s softball team.”
After winning their opening series in Puerto Rico against the Atlanta Smoke, the Diamonds carried a 2-1 record into their inaugural home series, June 17- 20 at Legends Field. Ricard hopes those seats will be filled and that fans can bring the noise for the first home games in franchise history.
“I love playing in an atmosphere with a bunch of fans, a bunch of energy,” she said. “I’m excited to see how I can feed off them and they can feed off my energy on the mound.”
Ricard is no stranger to raucous softball atmospheres. In her junior season, she pitched at Oklahoma’s 4,200-seat Love Field, the largest collegiate softball field in America. The Diamond’s home field holds 4,500 fans, and Ricard is looking forward to having a large number of them on her side when she takes the mound.
“It’s going to be different now since it’s my home team instead of being against the other team,” she said. “It’s going to be different for me, but I think I’m going to love it.”
Ricard is still adjusting to the differences between college and professional softball, one being her role on the pitching staff.
Ricard’s first appearance came out of the bullpen. She pitched six innings of relief in the Diamonds’ 9-5 loss to the Smoke. That was a rarity for Ricard, who started 47 of the 52 games she appeared in during her senior season.
But Ricard intends to be flexible with her role. On a Diamonds roster that includes former NCAA champion Hope Trautwein-Valdespino and standout Missouri alumna Lauren Krings, Ricard hopes to embrace the challenges of the professional game.
“I’m up for whatever they give me. I think it’d be cool to start some games and cool to come in relief in big moments,” she said. “Just being out on the field, that’s where I thrive.”
As the Diamonds’ season kicks into gear, Ricard aims to maintain the mindset that made her one of the best mid-major pitchers in the country. The stage and team she plays for are different now, but the game she excels at remains the same.
“Once I threw that first pitch, I was like, OK, it’s pitching.” Ricard said. “The only thing that’s changed is the uniform for me. It definitely is different, but the game hasn’t changed.”
This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 10:39 AM.