We realize "records are made to be broken" but the change in the distance from home plate to the pitching rubber (from 40 to 43 feet) might put some high school softball records out of reach.
Three feet might not seem like much, but the added split-second given to batters has taken the big edge away from pitchers.
Another advantage for the hitters is the technology behind bats being manufactured today. They simply have more "pop" to ‘em. What was a routine fly ball 20 years ago is now a 250-foot blast.
The new distance most likely will protect some lofty pitching records as documented by the National High School Sports Record Book, published by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Of our Top 10 most untouchable softball records, a half-dozen are pitching records — most recorded when the pitching distance was 40 feet as compared to today's mandatory 43-foot distance.
Larry Niemeyer's record for softballcoaching victories is the topunbreakable record.
Photo courtesy of Natalie Niemeyer
But the No. 1 record has little to do with pitching distance. It belongs to the winningest coach of all-time.
In our humbled assessment, the record least likely to be broken, let alone approached, is the all-time record for coaching victories that belongs to Larry Niemeyer of
Jefferson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Since he began coaching in 1958, Niemeyer has won 83 percent of the more than 2,400 games he has coached.
Feature story on Larry NiemeyerHis total is an amazing – and still counting – 2,023, almost 1,000 ahead of Jim Brown of
Hoover (Ala.) who has 1,131. Niemeyer has three state titles in his 50-plus years at the helm. While he has success no other has attained on the diamond, Niemeyer does a pretty good job on the basketball court as well. His Jefferson teams are 862-338 under his tutelage. Niemeyer says he'll be back both on the court and softball field in 2012.
No. 2 — MOST NO-HITTERS IN A CAREER (50): Between 1988-1991, Candice Carnahan of
Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), pitched 50. Holding at No. 2 is Nicole Williams, who had 44 in 1990-1993 for
Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford, Mich.). Carnahan played collegiately at Louisiana Tech.
No. 3 — MOST STRIKEOUTS IN A GAME (61): Before she was an All-American at Arizona, Alicia Hollowell was a standout at
Fairfield (Calif.). In a 30-inning game played over two days on May 25 and May 29 versus league rival Woodland, Holloway used 364 pitches to strike out 61 batters. Hollowell broke the 1986 record of 53 (29 innings) set by De De Weiman (Cerritos Gahr, Calif.) against Lakewood St. Joseph. Weiman, a freshman, lost 1-0.
No. 4 — CONSECUTIVE STRIKEOUTS IN A GAME (27): It is the oldest record in the record book, dating back to 1939 when Dolores Frieze of
Garfield (Los Angeles) struck out 27 consecutive batters in a game. In 2007, Jenna Ignowski struck out 23 straight for
Niles (Mich.).
No. 5 — CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A BASE HIT (103): This record belongs to current Alabama sophomore and leadoff hitter Kayla Braud. She collected base hits in 103-straight games for
Marist (Eugene, Ore.). Her prep streak started March 30, 2006, of her freshman year and ended June 6, 2009, when Marist won its second-straight state title. In her prep career, Braud was held hitless in a game once -
in four years. No. 2 on the list is far back - 46 games by Natalie Johnson of
Burlington (Iowa), June 21, 1999 through June 11, 2000.
No. 6 — CONSECUTIVE INNINGS NOT ALLOWING AN EARNED RUN (393.3): Also belongs to Lake Charles Barbe's Carnahan as her streak of consecutive innings of not allowing an earned run is 393 1/3. She did that in 1988-1990. More than 100 innings behind in second place is Meredith Cervenka of
Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta, Calif.), who in 1990-2000 went 292 innings without allowing an earned run.
No. 7 (TIE) — MOST CAREER SHUTOUTS (117): Jen Bice of
Woodward-Granger (Woodward, Iowa) pitched 117 career shutouts (1996-1999). Hollowell, now coaching the University of California-Davis, is second with 111 (1999-2002) and Carnahan is third with 85 (1988-1991). Bice later pitched for Iowa State.
No. 7 (TIE) — MOST SHUTOUTS IN A SEASON (37): The record also belongs to Bice, who pitched 37 shutouts in 1997. And eight of those were perfect games. Misty Flesher had 35 for
Lone Grove (Okla.), in 2004. Flesher plays at Mississippi State.
No. 8 — MOST RUNS IN A GAME ONE TEAM (88): Washington Academy (East Machias, Maine), which scored 88 runs against state rival Lubec in 1983. At a distant second is
La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), which scored 71 against Southland Christian in 1979.
No. 9 — STOLEN BASES IN A GAME (68): The total is 68. Yep, almost 10 stolen bases per inning when
Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, Texas) played Texas rival West Orange-Stark, April 6, 1993. At a distant second is
Central (El Centro, Calif.) with 49 against Blythe Palo Verde in 1980.
N0. 10 — MOST TRIPLES IN A CAREER (48): Jodi Every of
Catholic Central (Lansing, Mich.), 1996-99. In the No. 2 spot is Kristy Kennedy of
Light & Life Christian (Taylor, Mich.), who between 1993-1996 had 40 three-baggers. Every became a two-time junior college All-American at Lansing Community College in Lansing, Mich.
