Shelby Lowe burst onto the national softball scene in 2018 when she tossed a two-hit complete game with seven strikeouts to lead Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett to a 4-1 victory over Athletics-Mercado in the PGF 16U Premier National title game.
It was the first PGF national championship in any age group for the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization.
“Shelby is a competitor and as a pitcher that’s the best skill to have,” Bolts 18U coach Rocky Thompson said. “Shelby has been a huge and vital part of our program. We have to give Keith Dorsett credit for that. Shelby was a big part of our organization winning its first PGF National Championship.
“Shelby doesn’t get rattled and loves to get those strikeouts. She spins it well. Even though her favorite pitch is the rise ball, she has embraced the usage of her other pitches to make her rise ball even more effective. Even though we talk about her pitching a lot, she is also very mobile. She is great at fielding her position and able to make plays on the short game. She is actually really quick when it comes down to making plays on bunts.”
Lowe is a standout pitcher, but her leadership and ability to motivate her teammates makes her even more valuable.
“The success that Shelby has been able to accomplish has made an impact on our younger players here with the Bolts,” Thompson said.
“We are a family here with the Bolts, so they are all trying to be like their big sister now. Shelby is a great individual and teammate with an awesome personality.”
The Auburn-committed 2020 southpaw went 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 40.1 innings to help the Bolts to a fifth-place finish at the PGF 18U Premier Nationals this past summer.
She also made the PGF 18U Premier All-Tournament Team.
Former All-American Carlee McCondichie, a former teammate of Lowe’s with the Bolts, can’t wait for Lowe to join her at Auburn.
“Shelby is a great player,” McCondichie said. “I love playing behind her. She always has momentum and always does her very best. Even when we pitch her many games in a row, she pitches until she physically can’t do it anymore. She pitches her heart out every time she steps out on the field.”
“(For) the Bolts, she led us to our very first PGF National Championship. Our team changed history with her (on) the mound. She will go down as one of the best pitchers in the country. I can’t wait to spend the next three years with her when she gets down here with me (at) Auburn.”
Go inside “Extra Star Power” to learn more about one of the top 2020 prospects in the nation…