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If you’ve been watching the NCAA Div. I preseason teams closely, you’ve probably noticed that several true freshman pitchers—including UCLA’s Megan Faraimo, Alabama’s Montana Fouts, Northwestern’s Danielle Williams and Tennessee’s Ashley Rogers—have stepped into the spotlight and performed exceedingly well.
We thought we’d go back to our Extra Inning Softball 2018 1st Team High School All-American list from last June and look at who we listed and, of those, see who’s stepped into the circle for their college teams and not missed a beat.
As we do every year, players are profiled by position including a Multi-Purpose category which takes into consideration athletes who shine at more than one position or role… think Rachel Garcia being a great pitcher AND hitter).
Here are 14 from the Class of 2019 who have already made an impact as true freshmen along with 2019 college info based on stats prior to Thursday’s games (players listed alphabetically as they were in the All-American lists from 2018).
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Extra Inning Softball 2018 1st Team All-Americans—Pitchers
originally published on Extra Inning Softball on June 25, 2019
Sr. Megan Faraimo, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) CA
Megan is a 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher listed by Extra Inning Softball as the top prospect in the senior class and she was also named as the Gatorade National and State Player of the Year. The San Diego star headed to UCLA went 26-3 and led the Dons to the San Diego Section Open Division finals this year. For the year she compiled a 0.23 ERA and struck out 405 batters while giving up just 47 hits versus just eight walks in 186 1/3rd innings. Megan had four perfect games, five no-hitters and 17 shutouts this year She also finished her high school year with 1,028 K’s and is also a PGF All-American.
Now: Even with NCAA Div. I National Player of the Year Rachel Garcia sharing the innings, Faraimo has been spectacular. Having just made the USA Softball JO National Team on January 1, she threw two no-hitters in February and has a 4-0 record with a 0.77 ERA and 45 strikeouts against only six walks in 27 1/3rd innings.
Sr. Hannah George, Northside GA
Hanna, a North Carolina signee, went 17-1 with a 0.39 ERA and was the key cog for the Northside team that went 34-3 and won the first state championship in the softball program’s history. She came up clutch when it counted, giving up just one hit while striking out eight to clinch the title series against Stephens County.
Now: George has appeared in the second most games for the Tarheel pitching staff after Brittany Pickett and has a 1-2 record but does have a 1.88 WHIP and has struck out 15 batters in 25 innings.
Sr. Karly Heath North Augusta SC
The tall right-handed pitcher was the 2018 Gatorade State Player of the Year as she went 21-2 with a 0.16 ERA as the Yellow Jackets made it to the Class 4A semifinals this spring. The senior headed to South Carolina struck out 278 hitters versus 17 walks in 133 2/3rd innings. She earned her third straight year of being named All-State and Region 4 Player of the Year.
Now: On a staff that has seen five pitcher throw for five innings or more and all get at least one win, Heath has started three games and has a 1-0 record with a 5.25 ERA, but has limited opponents to a .147 batting average.
