Coker sister acts earns pair national media attention
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Not only did Ashley Coker throw a pair of no-hitters in helping the Kansas Wesleyan Lady Coyotes to four wins last week, she and her younger sister Katie have appeared in the national media spotlight for throwing no-hitters on the same day last Friday night.

Ashley, a senior for the Lady Coyotes, and Katie, a senior pitcher for Salina’s Sacred Heart High School, both tossed no-no’s last Friday night … just across the park from one another.

While Ashley was busy tossing a no-hit performance in a 9-0 KWU win over McPherson at Diamond 3 at Bill Burke Park, Katie was busy equaling her sister on Diamond 6 for the Knights in an 8-0 win over Concordia.

Ashley’s no-no was her second of the week, as she shut down Southwestern on Monday night 3-0, pitching seven innings, striking out 13 and walking none.

In Friday’s game Ashley pitched a five-inning, rule-rule shortened game, striking out 13 and walking just one.

They were the first no-hitters of her career at Kansas Wesleyan.

Since the story appeared in last Sunday’s Salina Journal of the sisters throwing no hitters, numerous media outlets have picked up interest in the story, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine and CBS.

CBS News contacted the Wesleyan sports information department on Tuesday about the possibility of talking to Ashley.

"To me, it's pretty exciting. It's kind of crazy," Coker said in an interview with the Salina Journal.

“Throwing two no-hitters in a week is an amazing accomplishment at any level,” KWU Sports Information Director David Toelle said. “Throwing the in fact that she did it at the same time as her sister makes it a special deal, worthy of all the attention it’s bringing to Ashley, her family, Sacred Heart and Kansas Wesleyan.”

The elder Coker went on to earn both Kansas Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, and NAIA Region Player of the Week and Co-Pitcher of the Week honors.

Wesleyan (17-14, 7-3) returns to action on Thursday when the Coyotes travel to Hillsboro to take on Tabor, and then head to Leavenworth on Saturday to take on Saint Mary. KWU concludes the regular season on next Tuesday at home against Sterling.

-- KWU SI --