PERFECT PAIR—Thousand Oaks High senior co-captains Kandi Kuder, left, and Paris Shipp combined to hit a dozen home runs in the Lancers’ first 20 games. They go by the moniker “Smash Sisters.” RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers The Smash Sisters are mashing their way through the Marmonte League.

If local sports fans haven’t heard of Thousand Oaks High’s dynamic softball duo of Kandi Kuder and Paris Shipp, they need to start paying attention.

Senior co-captains for the Lancers (14-6 overall, 4-5 in league as of Tuesday) Kuder and Shipp do a lot of everything—and they do it well.

“I know she has my back the whole time,” Kuder said of Shipp.

“We’re trying to make this a season we’re going to remember forever.”

Kuder has dedicated the season to her mother, Cheryl, her biggest fan and best friend.

Cheryl Kuder is battling cancer.

“I’m playing this season for her,” Kandi Kuder said.

Before last Saturday’s Thousand Oaks Tournament opener, Kuder spent Friday night at Los Robles Hospital as her mom underwent emergency surgery.

Shipp said Kuder has stayed mentally strong the entire year.

The Lancers understand their catcher needs to miss an occasional practice or may seem down from time to time.

“She’s going through some hard times,” Shipp said of her teammate and friend. “She puts on a brave face. She’s such a strong person. I look up to her so much for that.”

Kuder’s sister, Kourtney, a junior pitcher, left the team at midseason for personal reasons.

Kuder, 18, has found joy on the softball diamond.

Through the team’s first 20 games, the senior posted a .425 batting average, .468 on-base percentage and stroked 10 doubles, already a school record for twobaggers in a single season.

She added 22 RBI, 23 runs scored, three triples and five home runs with an .849 slugging percentage in her first 73 at-bats.

Defensively, Kuder hasn’t made an error behind the dish. The senior backstop communicates on defense and is always ready to pump up her teammates.

“I love to play,” Kuder said. “I love to be out there.”

Kuder got so amped up the night before the March 18 league opener against Newbury Park that she couldn’t sleep.

“I got so excited, I was like a little kid,” she said. “It felt like Christmas night.”

Kuder and Shipp aid the strongest offense in the Marmonte.

The Lancers averaged 6.4 runs per game entering Wednesday, the highest clip in the league.

“We have a solid lineup,” Kuder said. “One through nine, everyone can hit. Anyone can hit a ball over the fence.”

The senior said her dad, Kenny, is her biggest motivator. Her brother, Kurtis, will play football and basketball at TOHS next year.

Kuder will take her talents to Stetson University. She hopes to start in college at catcher as a freshman.

Her mom is never far from her mind.

“I want to play well,” she said, “then go home and tell her.”

Shipp, 17, is also enjoying a stellar season at shortstop.

The four-year varsity starter tore her labrum at the end of her sophomore campaign and spent the following year obsessing over statistical numbers.

“I was checking stats after every game,” Shipp said. “I was worried how I was doing personally. I regret that now. It’s a team game.”

Shipp’s playing with a new attitude. And she hasn’t checked her stats once this season, she said.

“Now I’m playing for fun,” Shipp said. “I don’t need to impress anyone with my stats. I get to play a game I love. I play for myself and my team.”

Entering Wednesday, Shipp had a team-leading .463 average with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 24 runs, six doubles and a .925 slugging percentage.

Shipp’s hard work helped her earn a scholarship to Long Island University.

The shortstop does her best to lead the team along with Kuder.

“We talked before the season,” Shipp said. “We’ve had strict seniors and other seniors who said, ‘Do what you want.’ We try to be a little bit of both. We have some inexperienced girls, and we’re trying to be good role models and good leaders.”

Shipp’s brother Dean plays the saxophone and piano and will be a freshman at Agoura in the fall. Their parents are Beth and Steve.

Softball holds a special place in Shipp’s heart.

“Friends ask me, ‘Don’t you get sick of it?’” she said.

“It’s what I love to do.”