Julia Crenshaw poised to become Mizzou softball’s next star
O’FALLON, Mo. (BVM) — Julia Crenshaw will soon take the field for the Missouri Tigers. After a tremendous high school career at Fort Zumwalt West, everyone involved with the Mizzou softball program can’t wait to see her on the diamond in Columbia, Mo.
Crenshaw saved her best for last at Fort Zumwalt West, helping the team to an 18-5 record and its first-ever Class 5 state quarterfinals appearance during her senior season last fall. The 5-foot-10 shortstop batted an incredible .619 with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 42 runs scored. She recorded a hit in all but one game this season, and struck out just one time.
In her career, Crenshaw finished with 97 RBIs. Not only is her game at the plate elite, but Crenshaw is also a sound fielder, who had a .932 fielding percentage with 30 putouts and 39 assists.
With the incredible season, Crenshaw was named St. Louis All-Metro Player of the Year, and also earned first-team all-state honors for the second time in her prep career. This summer, Crenshaw received an even higher honor when she was named Gatorade Missouri Softball Player of the Year.
Raise the banner! @crenshaw_julia is the @Gatorade Missouri Softball Player of the Year! Congratulations to Julia on this incredibly well deserved honor! #GatoradePOY pic.twitter.com/YxQrGVB7sk
— FZW Softball (@FZWsoftball) June 18, 2021
“Julia Crenshaw is just a superior talent,” Francis Howell Central head coach Zack Sheets said. “She’s a great athlete and she has all five tools. She’s a pure shortstop who can hit a home run on any field against anyone.”
Crenshaw has also displayed excellence off the field with a 3.79 GPA. In addition, she has done volunteer work with youth sports programs and elementary schools.
Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation in the Class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball, Crenshaw now has her chance to shine at Mizzou. The Tigers are coming off an impressive 42-17 campaign in which they made it all the way to the NCAA Columbia Super Regional, dropping two of three games to James Madison to end their season.
With Crenshaw among others coming in to form a strong 2021 class that is ranked No. 19 in the nation, the Tigers will look to build on their success and perhaps make a Women’s College World Series appearance in 2022.
