Washington School’s Allie Stevens is a better pitcher this year and it has little to do with her mechanics. In a 6-0 victory over Carroll Academy on Monday, Stevens pitched another shutout gem to bring her record to 8-2 this season. Stevens said the victories are due to her total trust in her teammates.
“I don’t put too much pressure on myself anymore because I know I have all my teammates behind me,” Stevens, a junior, said. “I used to think it was all up to me, and now I know that we are all in this together.”
Stevens’ team-first attitude is just part of her success. Stevens works year round on her craft as a pitcher. She now has a fastball, a screwball and a change-up in her arsenal, and she can pitch each with total confidence.
“The biggest thing is working on the spin of the pitch,” Stevens said. “A batter can catch up to your speed but not your spin.”
So far this season, Stevens has pitched in eight games where she has given up three hits or less. In the Lady Generals opening day victory against Sharkey Issaquena Academy, Stevens pitched a no hitter.
Stevens is also a feared hitter at the plate. In Monday’s win over Carroll Academy, she went three for three with two doubles and an RBI to raise her season batting average to .393. Lady General Meri Madison George also had two hits in the game, including an RBI. Washington’s Haleigh Cingolani had a hit and an RBI as well.
“The goal is definitely to win a state championship,” she said. “Some of my best friends on the team are seniors, and I want to do my best for them to win a championship.”
Stevens and her family live in Dumas, Arkansas. It is more than an hour drive from her house to Washington School each day, but she has been making the trip each day since she was in the eighth grade.
She said the long drive is worth it because she gets to be trained by Washington School head coach Hunter Palasini.
“I love being a student at Washington School, and I love being a Lady General,” she said.
