Minnesota softball commit Emily Leavitt isn’t fazed by pressure
CHINO HILLS, Calif. (BVM) – Ayala High School senior Emily Leavitt’s future on the softball diamond is set in stone, but it hasn’t prevented her from performing at a high level and setting records in the process before taking off for the University of Minnesota.
Ranked as the nation’s No. 21 overall prospect in the 2021 class by Extra Innings Softball, Leavitt says she feels some additional pressure whenever she takes the mound because of her Power 5 commitment.
“There’s definitely some pressure being committed; you have to show that you’re committed for a reason,” Leavitt said. “At the same time, I just go out there and play the same ball that I have since I was little. The game never changes no matter who you’re playing or where you’re going.”
No one who witnessed Leavitt pitch last week in a win over Glendora would’ve thought the senior pitcher felt an ounce of pressure.
Aside from the excitement of a 14-inning game, Leavitt was the story as she struck out a career-high 31 batters which landed her in 10th place in the CIF-SS record book for most strikeouts in a game. Even more impressive than the mind-blowing 31 punchouts were the 153 strikes (out of 200 pitches) that she threw.
Congrats to @AyalaSoftball Emily Leavitt (pictured on the right with catcher Madison Zaro on the left) as she enters the @CIFSS record book in 10th place for most strikeouts in a game. Struck out 31 hitters in Ayala's 2-0 win over Glendora in 14 inn. @CalHiSports @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/kh7DTKiYxN
— James Escarcega 📈🏈🏀⚾️🥎 🤼🤽🏽♂️🏊🏼♀️🏌🏻⚽️ (@James_Escarcega) May 20, 2021
There was even a stretch from the third to the fifth inning where Leavitt struck out eight consecutive Glendora batters. The future Golden Gopher was in a completely different zone.
“The craziest part is how much adrenaline played a big part into that because, honestly, I wasn’t feeling any fatigue even going into the 14th inning,” Leavitt said. “I didn’t even feel like anything in my arm until I was walking to the bus. I was definitely just in a whole different zone there going through that game.
“I think it’s really crazy; something I probably never expected, especially coming from one of my last few games in high school.”
I don't think in my lifetime that I will ever see an pitching performance like what I saw from @emilyleavitt25 today. Think about it for a second, 31 strikeouts! For some pitchers that a good week. She did it IN ONE GAME! This was a game for the memory books. https://t.co/hRk23NGUGN
— James Escarcega 📈🏈🏀⚾️🥎 🤼🤽🏽♂️🏊🏼♀️🏌🏻⚽️ (@James_Escarcega) May 20, 2021
The 2-0 win in extra innings for Leavitt and Ayala (14-3, 12-2) clinched a share of the Palomares League title. It also was the Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive win as they look to clinch an outright league title on Wednesday against Bonita.
That goal wouldn’t be possible without the mastery of Leavitt on the mound.
In 14 appearances this season, Leavitt has a 10-2 record, a 0.70 ERA, 13 complete games and five shutouts. The senior has struck out 188 batters and allowed just 40 hits on the season, but this is just her latest display of dominance. After earning all-conference selections as a freshman and sophomore, Leavitt tallied 78 strikeouts during her shortened junior season, holding her opponents to just a .199 batting average.
These are just a few reasons why Minnesota softball head coach Piper Ritter can’t wait to have Leavitt in Minneapolis.
“Emily is one of the top pitchers in her class and has had success at every level,” Ritter said in a press release. “She brings a lot of energy and intensity to the circle and moves the ball extremely well.”
Leavitt said she was always looking for something different than California and to experience something new, with schools like Oregon, Texas, North Carolina and Washington topping her list early on in the recruiting process.
But when the Golden Gophers came knocking, it wasn’t long before Leavitt was sold.
“A big thing for me was that they (Minnesota) were on the up-and-coming when I went out there about a year ago,” Leavitt said. “They weren’t someone on my radar list then all of a sudden, I got a phone call, looked them up and was like ‘oh snap, they have a lot of the things that I’m looking for here.’”
Following a dominant 2019 season where Minnesota finished 46-14 and appeared in the Women’s College World Series and a COVID-shortened season in 2020, another successful season for Golden Gophers came to a close on Sunday. No. 24 Minnesota fell in the Los Angeles regional final of the NCAA Tournament to No. 2 overall seed UCLA, ending its season at 31-13.
Leavitt will be a welcomed addition to an ascending program, and it likely won’t be long before the Ayala senior is making an impact in Minneapolis.
“If I can go in and show everything that I’ve done is showing off in the way that I play, that’s definitely a big thing for me.” Leavitt said. “I’ve been working hard this year just so I can go in as a freshman and show that I definitely need to be there.”
