Miranda Elish (Photo: Dawn Elish)
Miranda Elish’s numbers have been staggering.
As a sophomore, she had a 24-1 record with an earned run average of 0.31 and 233 strikeouts in 137 innings in winning the Gatorade Indiana State Player of the Year.
As a junior, she went 15-1 with an ERA of 0.65 and 198 strikeouts in 107 innings to repeat as Gatorade state player of the year. She had more hits herself (46) than she allowed in the circle (39).
So it’s not a surprise that Elish’s numbers are eye-popping as a senior. She is 7-0 thus far with a 0.70 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 50 innings for a team ranked No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY High School Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Super 25. She has 32 hits and allowed just 11.
She is also a monster at the plate, hitting better than .500 this season.
Elish, named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Team this spring, is faced with the expectation that she will be perfect every time. She was named honorable mention ALL-USA last spring.
“It’s tough because you have a lot of pressure to perform every time you’re out here,” Crown Point coach Ginger Britton recently told The Chicago Tribune. “She does a nice job of hitting her spots. She’s worked hard on adding some pitches to her arsenal this year. If one’s not working, she has a couple others.”
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Elish, ranked as the No. 1 softball recruit in the nation, committed to Oregon in 2012 and finally was able to sign her letter of intent last fall. She is the jewel of a Ducks recruiting class that is ranked as the nation’s best.
“Miranda lives for the big moments,” Oregon coach Mike White says. “She always wants the ball and always wants to be up to bat in crucial spots in the game. She throws very hard and works well down in the zone. She’s a power pitcher but can locate her spots as well. She is very deserving of the No. 1 ranking.”
The secret to her success, or at least one of them?
“The amount of time I spend working on hitting and pitching in our basement with my dad, six days a week, for almost two hours every night,” she said after winning the Gatorade honor last spring. “Also working out with Coach Garrett in the weight room to improve my strength and endurance.”
Elish can lift more than many football players.
The goal now is the elusive state championship.
She led Crown Point to its first regional title since 1985 as a sophomore before the team suffered its only loss of the season, 2-0 in the semi-state semifinals. Crown Point last 2-1 last year in the regionals.