National Highlight Reel: Molly Smith strikes out 20 of 21 batters

Though only a 15-year-old freshman, Molly Smith put together one of the greatest masterpieces of the 2011 softball season when she sparked Yamhill-Carlton (Yamhill, Ore.) to a 3-0 victory over Seaside (Ore.).

The 5-foot-6 standout struck out 20 of the 21 batters she faced during the seven-inning contest, which lasted just one hour and 15 minutes. If not for a third-inning checked-swing that resulted in a popup to the shortstop, she could have mowed down every batter in what still turned out to be a rare perfect game.

"I was very excited; I just couldn't believe it. It was our first league game and that made it more special," Smith told MaxPreps. "My strikeout pitch was probably my curveball. It really worked and was really moving. I dreamt about it a lot. I wanted one really badly in order for me to succeed as a confidence builder and show me that I could do it. It's a mental game with batters and I don't want them to get past me."

Coach John Kuehnel called Smith's gem "the most dominating performance by a pitcher that I ever have seen. That was just awesome to see. We were on pins and needles the last couple of innings."



Kuehnel noted that Smith got off to a slow start this spring because of her youth, but she has improved by leaps and bounds. Several weeks earlier she struck out 16 during a 3-1 victory over Stayton (Ore.) in 10 innings.

So far, Smith has a 3-3 record as the Tigers' No. 1 pitcher. In 48 1/3 innings, she has struck out 81, walked six and scattered 31 hits for an earned run average of 1.01.

"She throws low to mid-60s. She'll be throwing 65 to 70 (mph) by the time she's a senior. She has a nice little riser and a decent changeup," Kuehnel pointed out.

Smith has come a long way from the first-grade pitcher who "threw balls all over the place. I worked very hard (on control), doing drills that focused a lot on (hitting) spots. I now hit my spots."

She looks up to pitchers such as Cat Osterman and Jenny Finch and said she would love to attend the University of Alabama.

Conceding she'll be a marked person in the future, Smith said confidently, "I hope so. This thing in me – my drive – wants to be challenged and recognized."



* Norco (Calif.) edged previously unbeaten Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), 4-2, to win the 25th annual Michelle Carew Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Earlier in the day, Norco snapped an 18-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory over Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.).

* Hoover (Ala.) nipped Cherokee County (Centre, Ala.), 2-1, as Marcy Harper struck out 15 and yielded just two hits.

* Wilmot (Wis.) junior Kristen Wood fanned 19 during a one-hit, 9-0 victory over Burlington (Wis.).

* Haley Zemmer struck out 15 and yielded just one earned run as Athens (Troy, Mich.) outlasted Andover (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 10-9, in nine innings.

* North Smithfield (R.I.) nipped Woonsocket (R.I.), 4-3, behind Jess Trembly's 16 strikeouts.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}BASEBALL: Dibble has unassisted triple play
Bellevue West (Neb.) junior shortstop Zach Dibble made a rare unassisted triple play during a 7-3 loss to Millard South (Omaha, Neb.). With runners on first and second, he snared a line drive, touched second base and then tagged the runner coming from first.

* Junior Jesse Tuozzo struck out a school-record 18 and gave up just one hit as MacArthur (Levittown, N.Y.) defeated Port Washington (N.Y.), 4-1.



* Last week's highly-anticipated matchup between two of the nation's premier pitchers - Oklahomans Dylan Bundy (Owasso) and Archie Bradley (Broken Arrow) - never materialized due to inclement weather. However, hordes of pro scouts stuck around for the next day to watch Bundy fan 16 during a 10-0 rout of North (Edmond, Okla.). He also belted a long home run and two-run triple.

* Mercy (Riverhead, N.Y.) standout Pat Stepnoski struck out 14 during a 1-0, no-hit victory over Greenport (Greenport, N.Y.). Greenport's Sean Hansen also threw a no-hitter and fanned 10.

* Braden Mattson clobbered a 450-foot home run as Clark (San Antonio) defeated Stevens (San Antonio), 6-2. The 6-2 catcher has signed with Texas Christian University.

* Arlington (Tenn.) blanked Bolton (Arlington, Tenn.), 4-0, as junior Brady Bramlett set down 16 batters on strikeouts.

* Coon Rapids (Minn.) sophomore Logan Shore had 15 strikeouts during an 8-0 victory over Anoka (Minn.) in six innings.

* Senior Alex Roberts fired a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts as Myrtle Beach (S.C.) shut out North Myrtle Beach (Little River, S.C.), 8-0.

* Pelham (Ala.) blanked Paul Bryant (Ala.), 10-0, behind the no-hit, 16-strikeout performance of Thomas Lowery.
 
* Jason Carrell pitched his second no-hitter of the spring, striking out 16 and leading Hueytown (Ala.) to a 10-0 rout of Gardendale (Ala.).



* Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) senior Travis Radke struck out 16 during a 11-1 rout of Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.).

* Coaching milestone victories: Jim Danley of Eaton (Colo.) posted No. 700; Jim Curtin of Burlington (Mass.), No. 600; Jim Macaluso of King (Tampa, Fla.) and Gary Rungo of Arlington (Riverside, Calif.), No. 500; and Rusty Ingram of York (Yorktown, Va.), No. 400.

Continue reading{PAGEBREAK}BASKETBALL: Hubert picks Tar Heels
Desmond Hubert, a 6-9, 200-pound senior from New Egypt (N.J.), has committed to the University of North Carolina, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Hubert averaged 14.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.6 blocks in his final campaign.

* ZagsBlog reports that Seton Hall has signed Kevin Johnson, a 6-10, 260-pound center from Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.). He averaged 11.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a senior.

* Josh Richardson, a 6-5 senior guard from Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.), has committed to the University of Tennessee, according to the Oklahoman. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists during his final campaign.

* The Oklahoman also reports that 6-6 twins Ramond Jenkins and Romond Jenkins have signed with Oral Roberts. They combined for averages of 18.1 points and 13.6 rebounds as seniors for Douglass (Oklahoma City).



* One of the nation's premier girls basketball coaches, Jeff Sink, has taken the head boys position at the same school, Brea Olinda (Calif.). During 17 years coaching girls, Sink posted a 480-74 record with four state titles.

POTPOURRI
* Four Long Beach Poly (Calif.) junior football players have made commitments to Arizona State University, according to the Los Angeles Times. They are receivers Josiah Blandin, Richard Smith, Randall Goforth and linebacker Salamo Fiso.