The debates are still raging from the 2025-26 high school sports season, and now it is time for you to weigh in on the single best softball pitching performance of the year. With 15 incredible outings already selected, the poll for Martin Dentistry's Athlete of the Week series is live, and you absolutely need to see some of these stat lines before you cast your vote. This isn't just about who won, it is about who left absolutely everything on the field, and you only have until noon Thursday, July 23, to decide.
Unreal Numbers and Pure Grit in the Circle
Seriously, some of these numbers are just insane. We are talking about pitchers who completely took over games. Take Brooklyn Schaede from Tokay, for instance. On March 5, she threw a ridiculous 10-inning complete game, firing off 185 pitches and ringing up *20 strikeouts* in a gutsy 6-5 win over Merrill West. Twenty strikeouts! That is not a typo, folks. Talk about leaving it all out there. Or what about Hayden Fell, the Tracy junior and Long Beach State commit? She kicked off the season on Feb. 12 with an opening-day statement, throwing a complete game with 13 strikeouts, allowing only three hits and zero earned runs in a 5-1 win against Manteca. You gotta love that kind of early-season dominance.Freshmen Making History and Shutouts Galore
The talent on display goes deep too, with some freshmen stepping up in huge ways. Ripon Christian's Annabelle Hoff made her first high school win unforgettable on March 6, striking out 18 batters in a complete game during a thrilling 7-6 victory over Waterford. Then there is McNair's Kamryn Baser, another freshman who had one of those days where everything just clicks. On March 24, she tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out 16 and giving up just one hit in a 5-0 win over Franklin. Lathrop senior Maci De Costa also showed out, striking out 16 of 26 hitters she faced on March 9, allowing only three hits and zero earned runs in an 8-1 victory over Chavez, which absolutely set the tone for her county-leading strikeout season.Early Season Upset and Mercy Rule Shutouts
And you cannot forget the early season upsets and dominant shutouts. Kimball sophomore Briana Quintero delivered a five-inning complete-game shutout on March 5, striking out six and giving up just four hits in an 11-0 upset victory over Oakdale. That is how you preview a season. Lodi junior and St. John's commit Abigail Schweigerdt showed off her Division I arm on March 24, striking out 16, allowing two hits and one walk in a six-inning complete-game shutout to lead a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Merrill West. These are just seven of the 15 performances in the running, so you know there is even more fire to check out. The poll closes at noon Thursday, July 23, and there are no voting restrictions, so get in there and make your pick for the best of 2026.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.