Look up the term workhorse in “Webster’s New World Dictionary” and here is what you’ll find: 2. a steady, responsible worker who assumes a heavy work-load. 3. a person, animal or machine that proves to be durable and dependable.

That definition, when applied to the career of Mankato East senior pitcher Laura Vanderhoof, fits perfectly. Tabbed as the starter in her freshman year of 2005, Vanderhoof has thrown more than 600 innings for the Cougars and amassed some impressive numbers.

In four seasons she has compiled a 65-28 record with 29 shutouts, six no-hitters and 755 strikeouts. Her career ERA is 0.82. She’s a four-time All-Big Nine Conference player, a returning All-Section player, a returning honorable mention All-State performer and has been tabbed for this year’s Coaches Association All-Star series.

“She’s had a huge impact on our program,” East coach Joe Madson said this week. “I feel bad for her in the sense that we’ve never won a Big Nine title or a Section title with her on the team. She’s certainly been a good enough pitcher to have accomplished those things, but it takes more than pitching to get things done.”

Madson admits that, out of necessity, Vanderhoof became the team’s starter probably a year or two earlier than she should have. But she handled it well and has matured into a smart, talented pitcher.

“I remember thinking people could make excuses if I failed my first year because they’d say I was only a freshman,” Vanderhoof said. “I didn’t want that to happen so I put pressure on myself to do well.

“Now, as a senior, I probably have even more pressure but I can handle it a lot better. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I couldn’t have done any of it without my teammates.”

East has had a history of good pitchers, and two that come to Madson’s mind when talking about Vanderhoof are Kim Westendorf and Amy Swanson. Westendorf and Swanson were the kind of pitchers who got tougher with runners on base, and he’s seen a lot of that in Vanderhoof this season.

“She’s improved a lot mentally,” he said. “When she needs more zip with runners on base she reaches back and finds it. She’s getting better at it all the time.”

Vanderhoof realizes the end of her high school career is near and it’s something she prefers not to dwell upon.

“It’s gone by so fast,” she said. “When I think about it being over I almost start to cry. I love the girls on this team; I’m going to miss them when I’m gone.”

And next year, when coach Madson and the Cougars are trying to break in a new crop of unproven varsity pitchers, there will undoubtedly be times when they’ll miss Vanderhoof, too.

Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com