Lindsey Matsunaga has been all over the diamond for the Kaimuki junior varsity baseball team this season.

The freshman has played every infield position with her crowning achievement being a complete-game 12-9 victory over McKinley on April 3.

"It was a back and forth game. At one point, we were down by five in the second or third inning if I'm not mistaken," Bulldogs coach Reid Yoshikawa said. "She kept us in the game by keeping the McKinley hitters off balance."

Matsunaga, who walked two and struck out three, threw 117 pitches.

"I felt good because I never pitched seven innings before in my life," she said.

Matsunaga ran into trouble in the final inning, but was able to finish off the Bulldogs' first victory of the season.

"Bases loaded, last inning and she got the No. 9 batter to pop out to right field to end the game," Yoshikawa said.

Matsunaga is a finesse pitcher who throws a lot of strikes, according to Yoshikawa, and averages about a strikeout every other inning.

"She won't strike out many guys, but a lot of times they'll clip the ball," he said. "She changes speeds. She has a really good curveball, which is her best pitch."

Matsunaga also bats lead off and is 5 for 16 on the season with 10 walks for Kaimuki (2-7). She missed the first three games of the season while on a band trip.

"She has the best on-base percentage, draws plenty of walks and always puts the ball in play," Yoshikawa said.

He added Matsunaga is the most knowledgeable player on the team. She's been playing baseball since age 7 in the Manoa league.

"My dad taught me and my brother would teach me, too," she said. "I've been knowing things ever since I was 7 so it just stuck in my brain."

Yoshikawa has known of Matsunaga for quite awhile. He and Matsunaga's brother, Steven, are former Bulldog players. Yoshikawa graduated in 2000 and Steven in 2003.

"She used to come to our practices and throw on the mound," Yoshikawa said. "I watched her pitch with her dad."

Yoshikawa also coached Steven.

This year, Matsunaga also played softball and competed in track and field, where she ran the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x400. She plays trombone for the Kaimuki band.

In softball, she started at second base. Against Kalani on Dec. 13, she batted 3 for 5 and got the winning hit in an 11-10 victory.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.