Latest news with #NationalProFastpitch
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens breaks her own record for fastest softball pitch ever thrown
College softball's fastest flamethrower just got faster. Tennessee softball ace Karlyn Pickens had already thrown the fastest pitch ever recorded at 78.2 mph. But in the first inning of the super regional against Nebraska on May 24, she beat her own record. Advertisement Pickens threw 79.4 mph during Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl's first at-bat of Game 2. Pickens tied the previous record of 77 mph by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott earlier in the season twice before she broke it against Arkansas on March 24. Abbott originally set the record during a National Pro Fastpitch game in 2012. The Weaverville, North Carolina, native is known for her velocity as one of the few pitchers to consistently throw in the mid 70s and higher. Tennessee was tied 2-2 with Nebraska after the first inning. The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (43-15) lost Game 1 to the Huskers 5-2, and they would need to win Game 2 to extend their season and force a rubber match on May 25. Pickens had already thrown five strikeouts in the first two innings of Game 2. Advertisement Pickens won her second straight SEC Pitcher of the Year award this season after leading the conference in ERA and strikeouts. She currently has a 0.99 ERA and 259 strikeouts on the season. Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women's athletics. Email her at and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora's coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee softball: Karlyn Pickens sets fastest pitch record again
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Savannah Bananas invite Karlyn Pickens to pitch. Tennessee softball star asks 'when and where?'
Tennessee softball pitcher Karlyn Pickens continues to reap from her record-breaking softball pitch. After becoming the only softball player to throw 78 mph on Monday against Arkansas, Pickens received an invite from the Savannah Bananas to come and pitch for the independent baseball franchise that provides fans with entertainment. Advertisement REQUIRED READING: Karlyn Pickens throws fastest pitch ever recorded at 78 mph for Tennessee softball Pickens did not waste any time accepting the invite on Wednesday on X, formerly known at Twitter. She even asked for tickets for her teammates to come along with her. The Savannah Bananas are known for their unique baseball, "Banana Ball," which they call the "fastest and most entertaining game of baseball." The Savannah, Georgia franchise is also known for its on-field choreographed dances to songs by Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Mariah Carey, among others. Pickens hit 78 mph on a pitch in the sixth inning of Monday's 3-2 win over the Razorbacks. She had hit 77 mph twice earlier this season, which tied her with Monica Abbott's record for the fastest pitch in softball history. Advertisement Abbott, a former Tennessee star, set her record during a National Pro Fastpitch game in 2012. Pickens, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year, has posted a 0.86 ERA in 89 ⅓ innings of work, along with 131 strikeouts and 31 walks. She has limited hitters to 45 hits, or a .144 batting average against. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee record-breaking pitcher invited to pitch for Savannah Bananas
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Karlyn Pickens wins weekly SEC, national award
Tennessee junior softball player Karlyn Pickens earned both a conference and national weekly honor. Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Week and the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Pitcher of the Week following three conference victories over No. 14 Arkansas and No. 2 Oklahoma. She totaled 18 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched against the Razorbacks and Sooners. Pickens' selection as NFCA Pitcher of the Week marks the first time since 2017 for a Lady Vols pitcher to win a national award. Pickens, who posted a 1.65 ERA in three wins, made one start and two relief appearances. In a relief appearance on March 24 against the Razorbacks, she pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, while not allowing a hit. She made history by recording the fastest pitch in history (78.2 miles per hour), eclipsing former Lady Vol Monica Abbott's previous National Pro Fastpitch record of 77 miles per hour, which was set in 2012 with the Chicago Bandits. In the series opener against the Sooners, Pickens earned a relief victory, pitching 5.2 innings in the eight-inning game. She allowed one earned run and six hits, while recording six strikeouts. In Sunday's series finale against the Sooners, Pickens pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs, four hits and three walks. She recorded six strikeouts. Her two wins at Oklahoma helped Tennessee win the series in Norman, making the Lady Vols the third team since 2006 to win a series there.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Savannah Bananas invite Karlyn Pickens to pitch. Tennessee softball star asks 'when and where?'
Tennessee softball pitcher Karlyn Pickens continues to reap from her record-breaking softball pitch. After becoming the only softball player to throw 78 mph on Monday against Arkansas, Pickens received an invite from the Savannah Bananas to come and pitch for the independent baseball franchise that provides fans with entertainment. REQUIRED READING: Karlyn Pickens throws fastest pitch ever recorded at 78 mph for Tennessee softball Pickens did not waste any time accepting the invite on Wednesday on X, formerly known at Twitter. She even asked for tickets for her teammates to come along with her. The Savannah Bananas are known for their unique baseball, "Banana Ball," which they call the "fastest and most entertaining game of baseball." The Savannah, Georgia franchise is also known for its on-field choreographed dances to songs by Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Mariah Carey, among others. Pickens hit 78 mph on a pitch in the sixth inning of Monday's 3-2 win over the Razorbacks. She had hit 77 mph twice earlier this season, which tied her with Monica Abbott's record for the fastest pitch in softball history. Abbott, a former Tennessee star, set her record during a National Pro Fastpitch game in 2012. Pickens, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year, has posted a 0.86 ERA in 89 ⅓ innings of work, along with 131 strikeouts and 31 walks. She has limited hitters to 45 hits, or a .144 batting average against. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee record-breaking pitcher invited to pitch for Savannah Bananas
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens throws the fastest pitch in college softball history
Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens throws the fastest pitch in college softball history Show Caption Hide Caption Los Angeles Olympics move softball and canoe to Oklahoma City Instead of taking place on the West Coast, the sports will be the middle of the country. The University of Tennessee's softball pitcher Karlyn Pickens made history on Monday, becoming the first ever to throw a 78 mph pitch. The junior set the record for the fastest ever softball pitch recorded during the sixth inning of Tennessee's 3-2 win over Arkansas on Monday night. Pickens had already tied the previous record of 77 mph set by Monica Abbott. "There was a lot of emotions," Pickens told the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. "All the work that we've put in as a pitching staff, everyone that's helped coach me – it was a really surreal moment. It was really special." According to the News Sentinel, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year is known for her consistency, with pitches in the 70s mph common in her arsenal. Who held the previous record? Before Pickens, the fastest softball pitch ever recorded was thrown by Monica Abott, who threw a 77 mph pitch during a 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game, according to the Guinness World Records. Interestingly, Abbott was also a pitcher for Tennessee, playing for the Lady Vols between 2004 and 2007, and is a silver medalist for Team USA at the 2008 and 2020 Olympic Games. What is the softball mound distance? The distance from the mound to home plate is 43 feet in softball, while baseball's is 60 feet and six inches. In softball, the basepaths are also much shorter, at 60 feet compared to baseball's 90 feet. Contributing: Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
