Pitch Perfect: See who are the top pitchers in Bucks County area softball this season

The spring season is underway, and that means softball is back. Which players will be leading the way in the circle? Check out our picks for the Top 10 pitchers this season, with seven more to watch. Play ball.

Who are the top pitchers in the Bucks County area?

1. Lexi Waring, Council Rock South, junior

Waring had a remarkable sophomore campaign, recording a 0.85 ERA while striking out 152 in 82 innings, which included a complete-game no-hitter. She was excellent in the postseason, giving up a total of four hits, four walks and one run while striking out 17 through 13 innings in two district playoff games. She has over 300 career strikeouts in two seasons.

2. Karlye Teman, Palisades, junior

In 159 innings last season, Teman allowed 88 hits and 34 earned runs, and finished with a 1.50 ERA and a 24-2 record. During that span, she racked up 284 strikeouts and threw three complete-game no-hitters, helping the Pirates advance to the PIAA 3A semifinals. In a quarterfinal win, she gave up three hits, one walk and one run. At the plate, she batted .471 with 40 hits, 22 RBIs, seven doubles and three home runs.

4. Abbey Wagner, Quakertown, senior

Wagner took over in the circle last season after all-state pitcher Syd Andrews graduated, and led the Panthers to an undefeated 20-0 regular season record. She posted a 1.33 ERA, giving up 81 hits and 24 earned runs while striking out 153 batters over 116 innings.

4. Bella Nunn, North Penn, senior 

Last season, there was plenty of talk in the Suburban One League that the Knights had a pitcher who was going to be just as good – or even better – than Julia Shearer, who went 28-0 and was named Gatorade’s PA Player of the Year last season. Unfortunately for the rest of the state, that talk was correct and Nunn is ready to become North Penn’s next star pitcher. Though she played in the outfield last season, Nunn jumps to the top of the list of the area’s top pitchers, and has already committed to play Division 1 softball for the University of Maryland Baltimore County. In her pitching debut, she tossed a complete-game no-hitter with 16 strikeouts in the Knights' season opener.

5. Brianna Slack, Bristol, sophomore

Slack was named Bicentennial Athletic League Player of the Year after a freshman campaign that included 200 strikeouts in 109 innings. She recorded a 17-4 record and a 2.06 ERA while also leading the Warriors in all offensive categories. In the District One 2A championship game, Slack pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up three hits and striking out 17, and she earned the win in the Warriors’ first-round PIAA playoff game, allowing two hits and one run while striking out 10 batters.

6. Averi Dockery, Pennridge, junior

Dockery is best known for her hitting prowess, but she’s also stellar in the circle. Last season, she posted a 2.28 ERA and struck out 135 batters in 80 innings. Dockery, who also plays shortstop, recently committed to Florida State.

7. Sienna Lawson, Central Bucks West, senior

The Bucks’ ace and Misericordia commit earned first-team All-SOL Colonial honors last year after finishing the season with a 2.30 ERA and 115 strikeouts. She has 306 career strikeouts, with highlights from last season including an 18-strikeout performance against CR North, and a four-hit, complete-game shutout vs. Souderton.

8. Lauren Leshak, Lansdale Catholic, junior

She earned first-team All-Catholic and Team MVP honors as a sophomore, when she struck out 150 batters in 100 innings of work for the Crusaders. She recorded three straight shutouts to close the regular season and played in the Carpenter Cup, where she earned the win after striking out five and giving up one run through three innings in her start.

More: See who are the high school softball top position players in the Bucks County area

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9. McKenna Schroding, Souderton, senior

Schroding is a Division 1 recruit headed to the University of South Florida next fall. She posted a 2.10 ERA last season for Souderton. In 93 innings, she allowed 27 earned runs while striking out 111 batters.

10. Kamryn Pepkowski, Faith Christian, junior

As a sophomore, Pepkowski recorded six shutouts and averaged two strikeouts per inning, including a three-inning, nine-strikeout outing against Delco Christian. Named BAL Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, she has 300 career strikeouts and is also one of the Lions’ top hitters.

These eight pitchers are poised for big seasons:

Gia Sigmund, Villa Joseph Marie, sophomore: Sigmund averaged nine strikeouts per game as a freshman and posted quality starts in most of her appearances. Jems’ coach Ken Fetterolf noted that Sigmund improved dramatically over the course of the season, and that should continue this year.

Anna Evanchik, Pennsbury, senior: A first-team All-SOL selection at first base and Ursinus commit, she is stepping into the circle this season. Evanchik also brings plenty of pop to the lineup with her bat.

Katie LaPlaunt, William Tennent, senior: After a breakout sophomore season, LaPlaunt missed her entire junior season due to injury. She’s healthy now and ready to get back to business. She earned playoff experience as a sophomore when she pitched a complete game, giving up just five hits and one walk in her playoff game. She was named first-team All-SOL Freedom and team MVP as a sophomore and has committed to Gettysburg College.

Sarah Zmuda, CB East, freshman: Zmuda is one of three freshman pitchers on a very young Patriots’ team. She impressed in her varsity debut, pitching five innings and giving up no hits and one walk while striking out eight.

Danica Santiago, Abington, sophomore: She showed plenty of potential last season, possessing poise in the circle and showing an ability to battle back when down in the count.

Alyssa Tooley, Hatboro-Horsham, senior: A standout at second base, Tooley stepped into the circle last season and averaged two strikeouts per inning, while hitting 0.426 with six doubles and 26 runs scored. The West Chester commit sparked the Hatters’ 9-game win streak last year with a three-hit, 15-strikeout shutout of Upper Dublin. She shared time with freshman Bella Karpovich last season, but looks to be the team’s primary starter this year. In the district playoffs, she gave up just three hits and three walks while striking out 17 batters in  the first-round win.

Olivia Schlindwein, Council Rock North, sophomore: Schlindwein was CR North’s opening-day starter as a freshman, when she pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out 17 batters in a memorable debut. Sharing pitching duties with Lucy Mills, Schlindwein recorded a 1.90 ERA and struck out 101 batters in 67 innings. She is also one of the team's top offensive threats as designated hitter.

Lucy Mills, Council Rock North, sophomore: Mills began her freshman season pitching in relief, and earned her first start in April, when she tossed a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts to earn the win. She finished the regular season with a 2.25 ERA and walked only 21 batters while striking out 57 in 71 innings, and was the winning pitcher in the Indians’ regular season finale, giving up six hits and one earned run through seven innings to secure a district playoff berth. She will share pitching duties with Schlindwein again this season.

Sarah Wittmer, George School, senior: Wittmer will be the Patriots’ starting pitcher for the fourth straight year. Last season, she pitched a two-hitter in the playoffs and earned All-Friends School League honors.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High School Softball: Top pitchers in Bucks County area for 2024