CARROLLTON, Ala. — Poise in the circle can lead to perfection.
But Shelby Lowe doesn’t think in grandiose terms like that. It doesn’t matter she is a freshman because the Pickens Academy freshmen is mature beyond her years. You only need to talk to the left-hander pitcher for a few minutes to realize she knows her stuff and can handle herself in tough situations.
Lowe has made the most of those opportunities in the last week.
On Friday, Lowe pitched a complete-game two-hitter in a 2-1 victory against South Choctaw Academy. She walked none and struck out 17. Lowe followed that effort up Monday by allowing only one hit in nine innings in a 2-1 victory against Patrician Academy. She again didn’t walk a batter and struck out 17 in allowing an unearned run. Lowe helped her cause by going 2-for-4 with an RBI to help the Lady Pirates improve to 11-3.
For her accomplishments, Lowe is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“I think I have done pretty good,” Lowe said. “I definitely have not been at my best, but it is pretty close.”
When asked to describe how perfection relates to her as a pitcher, Lowe said she focused on making sure her seven or eight pitches work and that she gets the most out of them. She considers her dropball one of her favorite pitches. She feels it complements a fastball that has hit as high as 68 mph last summer, and typically is in the low to mid 60s.
Pickens Academy coach Wade Goodman said this is the first season catcher Abigail Colvin, who is in her first season as the team’s catcher, Lowe, right-hander Kacy Noland, and the team’s varsity pitchers are calling their pitches. He admits there are times when he has that nagging feeling that a different pitch had been called, but he said he trusts Colvin and all of his pitchers to make the right decisions. Goodman said Lowe’s experience on the travel ball circuit with teams out of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has helped her make a seamless transition to high school fast-pitch softball.
“She plays with a really, really good travel ball, so she gets to face the very best every weekend,” Goodman said.
Lowe, who has played travel ball since she was 9 or 10 years old, said she doesn’t pay attention to the number of walks or strikeouts that she has when she pitches. Still, she said she recognizes the fewer walks she has will make it easier for her to help her team get a victory.
“I want my stuff to work, and when my stuff works, most of the time they will chase what I throw, and that helps us get the routine plays and get it done,” said Lowe, who also pitched on the varsity team last season.
Goodman said Lowe has been so successful because she doesn’t get caught up in notching double-digit strikeouts or pitching no-hitters or one-hitters. He also feels the best for Lowe is to come because she pitches better in warmer weather. A perfect example came Monday, when Lowe was dominant in the circle to help the Lady Pirates earn an important victory.
“We played them about two weeks ago and beat them 6-5,” Goodman said. “It was freezin’ cold in that game. They have a really good team, but it was warm last night, and cuz was bringin’ the heat.”
The warmer temperatures figure to make it easier for Lowe to inch closer to perfection. While she will enjoy the warmer weather, Lowe said she will continue to keep her focus on team accomplishments. She said she has the confidence of her defense to make the plays and help her dominate in the circle.
Goodman agrees and feel the confidence Lowe has gained playing travel ball allows her to command the circle with more poise than most freshmen and older players.
“I have gone different places and have been able to go through every situation and do that and learn the game,” Lowe said. “It is not about me. It is making sure we get the win. It’s about how the team does.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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