Four Pitching Performances That Made Waves This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From double-digit strikeout performances to no-hitters and perfect games, high school softball pitchers across the country dominated in the circle this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, we examine four pitching performances that stood out above the rest this high school softball season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["106982"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":107586,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6830caae6c8ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hannah DeMarcus twirled a gem against Niceville in late March. The class of 2027 right-handed pitcher registered 33 strikeouts in a 12-inning performance. She surrendered one walk without allowing a hit in the 1-0 victory for Pace. DeMarcus struck out all but five batters she faced in the win. It was her eighth complete game of the season. DeMarcus completed the year with 19 complete games in 22 starts. She finished the season with a 22-2 record and nine no-hitters. The right-handed pitcher ended her sophomore campaign with a 0.29 ERA across 169 innings pitched. DeMarcus recorded 406 strikeouts and posted double-digit punchouts in all but one of her starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":107381,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Grace Pruitt","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rockingham County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Carolina Cardinals Chandler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6830caae6c9a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ava Grace Pruitt, a University of North Carolina Tar Heel commit, dominated in her April 2 appearance in the circle. She tossed seven innings while punching out 17 batters. The class of 2026 right-handed pitcher limited her opponents to three hits with one walk in the 9-0 victory. Her April 2 start marked her seventh double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Pruitt, who is also a utility player, posted 15 games with at least 10 strikeouts this year. She ended the season with 24 wins, which ranked 15th nationally.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":107379,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Madelyn Vogan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sharon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Ohio Outlaws","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6830caae6ca29"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In Madelyn Vogan's sixth start of the season, she pitched a complete-game, two-hit performance against Hickory. Vogan, a class of 2027 recruit, recorded 18 strikeouts without allowing a single walk. She recorded her sixth win of the season in Sharon's 1-0 victory. The right-handed pitcher began the season without allowing a run in six straight appearances. Vogan, who is also a corner infielder, allowed six runs all season for Sharon in 101 innings pitched. She compiled a record of 18-0 with a 0.30 ERA and 244 strikeouts to just 13 walks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["102320"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":107587,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6830caae6ca6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emily Needham pitched a lights-out performance in an April 14 start for Saint James. The junior right-handed pitcher tossed a perfect game against ECHS. Needham recorded 18 strikeouts, a season high, across seven innings of work. She followed her April 14 perfect game up with another perfect game on April 15, during which she recorded 17 strikeouts. Her 430 strikeouts ranked first in the nation in 2025. Needham, who is committed to South Alabama, pitched six straight games with double-digit strikeouts. In that stretch, the class of 2026 ace posted 89 strikeouts in 41 innings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["97878"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6830caae6caaf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson shined in her first year of high school softball. Jackson, a class of 2028 recruit, tossed a gem in an early March appearance. The right-handed pitcher registered 15 strikeouts across six innings. She allowed one walk without giving up a hit for Stone Memorial. Jackson's March 10 start began a five game stretch in which she recorded double digit strikeouts. She finished the season with 10 double-digit strikeout performances. Jackson 214 strikeouts compared to 65 hits and 60 walks. She finished her freshman campaign with a 0.87 ERA in 129 innings pitched and a 16-5 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->