If you haven’t heard of Samantha Show yet, don’t worry, you will. She’s only a sophomore but the softball superstar is already putting up the kind of numbers that would make the likes of Jennie Finch blush.
Show, who was recently named the Gatorade Texas softball player of the year, is a star for Pearland (Texas) High. She has two seasons of high school eligibility remaining, yet has already committed to play collegiately at Texas A&M.
The reason for Texas A&M’s interest, not to mention just about every other college softball program in the region, becomes obvious when one takes a quick glance at Show’s statistics. In only her second season of high school softball, the Oilers ace struck out 357 batters across 183 innings. That’s almost two batters per inning, an astonishing strike out rate for any pitcher at any level.
Pearland was upset in the state playoffs by Brazoswood, ending the squad’s season with a record of 36-4, short of the team’s goals but still an overwhelming success for Show personally.
Contrast that with Show’s 47 hits and 61 walks allowed, and the sophomore can make a serious case about being the nation’s most dominant pitcher.
Part of that success on the pitch comes from Show’s comfort with the sport. According to an interview she gave to USA Today, the Pearland star began playing softball at age 4, and continues to play almost every weekend today. She claims that she loved the sport so much as a kid that she used to cry when practice was cancelled.
Show doesn’t have to worry about that now. Instead, anyone who lines up against the overpowering ace has plenty to be concerned about.
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