Five Pitchers With The Nastiest Changeups In Club Ball

Changeups may not light up a radar gun, but they can change the entire rhythm of a game.   On the club softball circuit, the best pitchers use this pitch to disrupt timing, freeze hitters, and turn big swings into weak contact. These five pitchers have mastered the art of disguise, pairing their changeups with complementary pitches and the confidence to throw them in any count.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five arms that own some of the nastiest changeups in the club softball game today.    Shawnee Spurlock thrives on deception. Her fastball works in the low 60s, but it's her sharp, late-fading changeup that separates her from most arms her age. She throws it with the same arm speed as her fastball, creating a dramatic drop-off that leaves hitters frozen or way out in front. The pitch comes out of her hand clean, tunnels well, and consistently produces weak contact or swings and misses. At Strong Rock Christian Academy in Georgia, she was the unquestioned ace, earning 4A GIAA Pitcher of the Year with 105 strikeouts in 125 innings, while also hitting .381 with seven home runs. With Georgia Impact this summer, she continued to shine against elite national competition, posting a 2.98 ERA, 42 strikeouts, and just five walks in 52.1 innings. Her ability to command the ball, change speeds, and attack hitters with confidence makes her one of the most dangerous changeup pitchers on the club circuit.     Peyton Hendrix brings a rare blend of power, precision, and poise to the field. Her rise ball jumps late in the zone, but it is her changeup that truly sets her apart, falling off the table with sharp late movement that keeps hitters guessing. She throws the pitch consistently and produces weak contact. With elite spin and top-level accuracy, she limits free passes and forces weak contact, finishing 2025 with a 1.51 ERA and a .231 opponent batting average. At the plate, Hendrix is just as reliable, hitting .457 with a .500 on-base percentage against elite competition. A former PGF 14U Premier National Champion and the Class 4A South Carolina Player of the Year, she is as decorated as she is dominant. Add in a 4.96 GPA, and Hendrix is the type of pitcher who raises the bar every time she steps on the field.     Chloe Taynor has made her mark with a paralyzing changeup that she delivers with pinpoint accuracy. She pairs it seamlessly with her rise ball, creating a tough two-pitch mix that keeps hitters guessing and rarely allows them to get comfortable. Her ability to spin the ball at an advanced level gives her an edge, making her pitches jump and dive in ways that few hitters can adjust to. A fierce competitor, Taynor thrives in big moments and has built a winning record in both championship and semifinal games. She excels in the circle by attacking hitters with confidence and executing her pitches under pressure, proving she has both the skill and mentality to dominate when it matters most.     Isabella Villarreal has developed one of the toughest changeups on the circuit, pairing it with a sharp drop ball that tunnels perfectly out of her hand. The combination keeps hitters guessing and produces constant swings and misses. After dedicating herself to improving her changeup this summer, she has turned it into a true weapon. Her results on the national stage back it up. At the AFCS in Indianapolis, she threw 20.1 innings against 92 batters and allowed only six earned runs, while striking out 21 batters and walking just three, finishing with a 2.06 ERA and 1.3 WHIP. She was even more dominant at the Top Gun Elite Championship, where she logged 25.1 innings, struck out 32, walked three, and gave up only four earned runs for a 1.11 ERA and .987 WHIP. Villarreal's ability to spot pitches, change speeds, and stay composed in big moments makes her one of the most dangerous arms to face on the club circuit.     Anniston Shelton has quickly built a reputation for having one of the most devastating changeups on the club softball circuit. The pitch freezes hitters in the box and forces them to hesitate, making them unable to pull the trigger. She pairs it with a sharp curveball that makes her even tougher to square up, giving her a complete mix that consistently keeps lineups off balance. Competing at the 18U level as only a sophomore and 2028 graduate, Shelton showed maturity beyond her age. She threw 70 innings this summer, striking out 86 batters, while holding opponents to a 2.04 ERA. Her growth as a leader and her ability to command big games make her a standout talent with one of the nastiest changeups in club ball.

Changeups may not light up a radar gun, but they can change the entire rhythm of a game.