FRONTENAC, Kan. — Frontenac senior pitcher Avery Johnson reached her latest career milestone when she earned her 600th career strikeout Monday night against Mount Vernon, Mo.
Johnson finished the game with nine strikeouts and she sits at 608 career strikeouts entering Tuesday’s game against Diamond, Mo.
Before the season, when Johnson signed with junior college Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for softball, Frontenac coach Cassie Rhuems said that Johnson would reach 500 and 600 career strikeouts and possibly even 700 career strikeouts.
"That's a big milestone for her," Rhuems said. "She hit 500 at Colgan. She's already hit 600. She does a good job. She kept hitters on their toes today. We missed with that home run ball. She knows what she did wrong with it. The good thing about Avery, she takes responsibility for mistakes and moves on to the next batter. That's what you have to do to be a great pitcher."
Johnson needed 16 strikeouts to reach 500 before the Raiders played a CNC League doubleheader April 10 against rival St. Mary's Colgan at Cheryl Stice Field in Pittsburg.
Johnson struck out exactly 16 in the first game of the doubleheader.
Fifteen games later, Johnson hit 600 with her first strikeout Monday.
"It's hard for me to keep track when she's striking out as many as she is, but it's a great accomplishment for a great kid,” Rhuems said.
On the season, Johnson has 144 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings pitched for the 19-1 Raiders. They have possibly five regular-season games and then as many as 11 games remaining, depending upon how far the defending Class 3A state champions can advance in the postseason.
