As the Nebraska high school softball season approaches its midway point, there has yet to be a no-hitter tossed through at least six innings, according to the MaxPreps Nebraska softball database. But there have been plenty of fantastic pitching performances in the Cornhusker State so far this summer.
After striking out 11 Cass hitters in an 8-0 win Aug. 20, Nebraska City's Emerson Becker took top honors in this week's Top 10 by giving up a couple of hits and walking no one in the shutout win. The sophomore threw 72 pitches while facing 20 batters.
Reese Fisher of Ashland-Greenwood, meanwhile, walked one batter while allowing two hits and striking out 13 enemy hitters in a 9-0 triumph over Syracuse September 6 to grab the No. 2 spot.
In a 3-0 win over Milford Aug. 18 and a 2-1 triumph over Freeman Aug. 27, Yutan-Mead's Shaylynn Campbell gave up just five hits and walked two batters collectively while striking out a total of 24 hitters to sit in the No. 3 and No. 7 spots respectively.
Omaha Marian's Maddia Groff, meanwhile, is making a strong case for being named the Cornhusker State's top pitcher through the first half of the season after she grabbed the Nos. 8 and spots in the Top 10 this week. Groff also struck out 10 or more batters through six innings or more on three other occasions.
In 8-1 and 9-1 wins over Papillion-LaVista South and Elkhorn South, respectively, the senior pitcher combined for 29 strikeouts and three walks while allowing one earned run during the lopsided wins.
Chloe Wagner of Ralston landed in the No. 10 spot with a four hit, one walk, 12 strikeout performance in a 2-1 loss to Malcolm Aug. 30. She also had a similar performance that did not make the Top 10 during a 3-1 win over Hastings St. Cecilia three days prior to the narrow loss. In that performance the senior struck out 11 batters in seven innings while giving up four hits, a walk and an earned run. Wagner threw 110 pitches in the outing.
Auburn's Ella Matteen earns special mention after posting a 2-1 loss to Plattsmouth Aug. 30. The senior dished out two hits and a walk while allowing just one earned run during the six inning, 94-pitch and 10-strikeout performance.
Eight different pitchers made this week's Top 10 with Groff and Campbell grabbing two spots each. According to our statistics database, 22 different pitchers in Nebraska have struck out 10 or more hitters in a game after throwing at least six innings. All three classes are represented in this week's Top 10.
In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, a pitcher had to strike out at least 10 batters while throwing six innings or more.
Maddia Groff, Omaha Marian
Photo: Samuel Mfinanga
1. Emerson Becker, Nebraska City6.0 IP | 2 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 0 Walks | 11 Strikeouts | 20 Batters Faced | 72 Pitches
8-0 win over Cass, August 20.
2. Reese Fisher, Ashland-Greenwood (Ashland)6.0 IP | 2 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 1 Walk | 13 Strikeouts | 20 Batters Faced | 77 Pitches
9-0 win over Syracuse, September 6.
3. Shaylynn Campbell, Yutan-Mead (Yutan)7.0 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Earned Runs | 1 Walk | 14 Strikeouts | 23 Batters Faced | 84 Pitches
3-0 win over Milford, August 18.
4. Hannah Devlin, Gothenburg7.0 IP | 2 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 0 Walks | 13 Strikeouts | 24 Batters Faced | 98 Pitches
4-1 win over Cozad, August 25.
5. Ava Laurent, Northwest (Grand Island)7.0 IP | 4 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 0 Walks | 12 Strikeouts | 26 Batters Faced | 123 Pitches
2-0 win over Beatrice, August 20.
6. Jerzie Schindler, Central City6.0 IP | 4 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 1 Walk | 15 Strikeouts | 23 Batters Faced | 97 Pitches
6-1 win over St. Paul, September 1.
7. Shaylynn Campbell, Yutan-Mead6.0 IP | 4 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 1 Walk | 10 Strikeouts | 25 Batters Faced | 85 Pitches
2-1 win over Freeman, August 27.
8. Maddia Groff, Marian (Omaha)7.0 IP | 5 Hits | 0 Earned Runs | 2 Walks | 15 Strikeouts | 28 Batters Faced | 122 Pitches
8-1 win over Papillion-LaVista South, August 30.
9. Maddia Groff, Omaha Marian6.0 IP | 3 Hits | 1 Earned Run | 1 Walk | 14 Strikeouts | 24 Batters Faced | 99 Pitches
9-1 win over Elkhorn South, August 20.
10. Chloe Wagner, Ralston8.0 IP | 4 Hits | 1 Earned Run | 1 Walk | 12 Strikeouts | 30 Batters Faced | 117 Pitches
2-1 loss to Malcolm, August 30.
