RIVERSIDE

It was a night for Hollywood.

Senior Night at Highland High School. The perfect time. The perfect script.

Prior to the Huskies softball game against Lone Tree on June 23, Highland senior pitcher Jessica Kraus joined her parents, Terri and  Daniel, and three of her teammates and their parents for Senior Night recognition.

Then, it was showtime.

“I kind of got a little teary,” Kraus said. “No, it’s game time.”

So, Kraus took her spot on the pitching mound. She struck out nine Lone Tree batters in five innings. She gave up just one hit in a 10-0 victory.

And in the biggest moment of the night, Kraus struck out her 300^th career batter. Cheers rose up from all corners of the ballfield behind the high school. Kraus looked up and saw signs that were made for the occasion.

“Her nickname for us says it all,” Huskies head coach Carrie Wieland said. “Hollywood.”

“She’s just been that girl that’s been out there in the public eye and quiet and supportive of her teammates,” Wieland said. “I’m just really proud of her accomplishments.”

Chances are, if you walked into the gym or onto an athletic field at Highland High School, you’d see Jessica “Hollywood” Kraus. In addition to softball, she has been a starter in basketball, volleyball and track and field. She was a rebounding force for the Huskies in hoops, topping 100 rebounds last season in 22 starts. She ranked fourth in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North in discus with her throws topping 98 feet. She ranked third on the volleyball team last fall in both kills and blocks.

“I’m literally here year round,” Jessica said with a smile. “And it’s crazy that it’s all going to be over soon. But I’m just taking every second in and living in the moment.”

And beyond all those stats and games and track meets and workouts, she’s a teammate.

“I just look up to her a lot with her positivity,” said Sarah Burton, a junior teammate in all of those sports. “She’s always positive. Always has a smile on her face. She never says anything negative about anyone and I think that’s just like someone we need on the team. All the time. Every sport.”

In the summer, that’s softball.

Jessica loves the sport. Growing up in Riverside, she played on the recreational teams in town as a young girl and then moved on to travel ball, playing in Iowa City and Quad Cities, among other places.

She made the Highland varsity as an eighth grader. Since then, she has played in 97 games and been the starting pitcher 44 times, including 16 starts this season. As her strikeout total hit triple figures last week, she won her 29^th game.

A look of determination takes over Kraus’ face with every pitch. Still, it’s different this year.

“She’s more relaxed than she was last year,” Wieland said. “I think that’s probably helped her a little bit. Really gets support with her family and I think that’s important.”

Jessica is the oldest of three girls in the Kraus family. One of her sisters, Danika, joined Jessica on the softball team two years ago.

In the fall, Kraus will head for Iowa State University, where she will study athletic training in the Department of Kinesiology.

“Sports is definitely my passion,” she said, “and I think this will give me a great opportunity to do something that I love.”

But first, more softball.

Friday night, Kraus was the starting pitcher for the Huskies in a 9-3 Class 1A tournament-opening victory over Lone Tree. Wednesday night, the Huskies will face Wapello in the Region 8 quarterfinals.

“She gets to the end of this year and hopefully we can take her to the state tournament,” Wieland said.

Another script for Hollywood.

“We’ve been having a great time on the softball field,” Jessica said. “Making so many memories.”

And she’s not done just yet.

News columnist Paul Bowker can be reached at bowkerpaul1@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bowkerpaul