Nation’s No. 1 softball player, Keagan Rothrock, looks to lead Roncalli back to state
INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) – Keagan Rothrock is coming off one of the most dominant seasons a high school softball pitcher can have. Her performance led Roncalli to a state title, and she is determined to take her team back to the promised land again.
The past year or so has confirmed what people have known since Rothrock has been playing softball over the last decade: she is a true star, and perhaps a generational talent in the sport.
However, that was not always the case for the superstar pitcher. She did luck into some good athletic genes, as her dad is a former baseball player while her mom played college softball at Purdue University Fort Wayne and is currently a pitching instructor in Indianapolis
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that she’s very insightful and knows a lot of stuff about softball and pitching,” Rothrock said about her mom. “I look up to her a lot because she’s always been there to give me the advice that I need and she’s always been there to guide me.
“I started getting into softball because of my mom and my dad. I think one of the biggest things that attracted me to it was the fact that I was always engaged in it and it was something that I had to work hard at. I wasn’t gifted with athletic abilities in softball … One of the biggest things I enjoy in softball is that I have to work hard for it and then that hard work pays off.”
It has been that hard work that has gotten Rothrock where she is today. When she first began playing softball, it wasn’t always pretty. During her time with the Indiana Gators, Rothrock was just a fourth-string pitcher.
“I could not throw a strike,” Rothrock said. “I was kind of frustrated with being the fourth-string pitcher so I would go out in the backyard a lot and throw and we would always find local facilities to go throw at. I’d go after school every day and just work on the simple mechanics.”
The work paid off, and by the time she started playing for the Beverly Bandits at 12 years old, Rothrock’s talent became evident. The pitcher began dominating in the circle, and that has not stopped throughout the rest of her travel career with Tennessee Mojo, and currently with Lady Dukes Softball.
Over the past year, Rothrock also had a chance to take her softball career even further by pitching for Team USA at the U18 Women’s Softball World Cup.
“I think it was a really good experience for me,” Rothrock said. “I was the youngest girl on the team and a lot of the girls were two or three years older than me so I was able to go down there and pick their brains on a lot of things.”
Rothrock was able to compete alongside many college softball players, which she will also become in about a year and a half. As she began getting better and better with the Bandits, college coaches were already taking notice.
Growing up idolizing former Florida Gators’ pitcher Kelly Barnhill, playing someday down in Gainesville became Rothrock’s dream. Although she was only in seventh grade, Rothrock took the next step to make that dream happen, committing to the Gators.
“My recruiting process started in sixth grade,” Rothrock said. “I don’t think I realized at the time what exactly was going on just because I was so young, but at the same time, it was probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”
The standout pitcher had the opportunity to check out many high-level programs, such as Oklahoma and Auburn. Yet, Florida always remained at the top.
“For me, it had always been Florida,” Rothrock added. “I had grown up watching Florida. I ended up going with them because of their softball program but they also have a great academic program there … The program is just amazing, all the coaches are awesome and I just think it’s a great atmosphere to be in because that program is one of the best in the country.”
Being committed to Florida for several years now, Rothrock’s bond has only continued to strengthen with the Gators. Her softball future at Florida is bright, but she still has two seasons to finish up at Roncalli High School. If they are anything like her first varsity season last spring, she may go down as one of the best prep pitchers to ever play.
Rothrock’s high school career was supposed to start as a freshman in the spring of 2020. However, a canceled season due to the COVID-19 pandemic took away her first opportunity.
“I was really excited coming in,” Rothrock said. “That was very, very frustrating to not have my freshman year.”
However, the lost season added fuel to the fire for the star pitcher, who came into her sophomore year with high expectations.
“I think not having a freshman year really motivated me to come out my sophomore year and show Indiana that everything they had seen about me was true,” Rothrock added. “I think that also played into all of my stats last year and just wanting to do the best I could do no matter the outcome.”
In the circle, Rothrock was able to prove her talent and then some. The pitcher went 24-2 on the year, posting a 0.13 ERA, striking out 364 batters, and allowing just 40 hits and six walks over 160.1 innings pitched. Over the course of the season, Rothrock had 13 shutouts, seven no-hitters and five perfect games.
Needless to say, she was dominant. Also hitting .421 with three home runs and 21 RBIs, it was her performance in the circle that helped the Royals to a 31-2 record and an IHSAA Class 4A state championship. As much as Rothrock’s contributions meant, she also credits her team for not only helping her to succeed, but for also leading Roncalli to the title.
“We had a really close team last year and everybody bonded really well,” Rothrock said. “I think that helped lead up to state. Once we got to state, we all knew that as long as we played together as a team and didn’t separate from each other, we’d have an extremely good chance of winning … When we did win, the atmosphere was pretty electric and pretty fun.”
Also the No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2023 by Extra Inning Softball and MaxPreps, Rothrock earned numerous accolades after the season, being named an All-American by both outlets. She was also named Indiana’s Gatorade Softball Player of the Year and Extra Inning Softball National High School Player of the Year.
“I was super excited about it,” Rothrock said specifically about winning Gatorade Player of the Year. “It was just awesome to have gotten that email. I was very proud of myself for it.”
Coming off such a spectacular year and coming into the 2022 season as the No. 1 player in the nation, it would seem higher expectations and even greater pressure to perform would impact a high school teenager. However, for Rothrock, the pressure only makes her better.
“There’s always going to be a little pressure from that kind of stuff just because everybody is watching you and they are waiting for you to make a mistake,” Rothrock said. “So, I obviously do feel that tiny bit of pressure there. But I usually take any pressure that I have and I turn it into motivation. I use that motivation to push myself to be better.”
Pressure felt within a game is also something Rothrock handles well. In fact, she relishes it, and feels that her ability to stay calm in the big moments is one of her greatest attributes as a pitcher.
“I’m able to stay calm on the mound no matter how tough the situation might be,” Rothrock said. “I actually love being under pressure in situations like either the game being really close or having the bases loaded. I think just being able to stay calm, collected and just being able to keep a poker face has really helped me a lot.”
Handling the pressure and expectations is something Rothrock hopes leads to another successful year. Despite what she did last season, Rothrock knows that this is a new year. While her team may be poised to win a state title once again, it is all about taking things one game at a time for the Royals.
“One of my biggest goals this year is to just come out and not look past the game we are playing,” Rothrock said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of stuff I was able to accomplish last year, but it’s kind of in the past now and I’m starting with a clean slate this year.
“With our returning team, I think we have a good chance at winning state this year, but we’re also not looking past the game that we’re playing.”
Never looking too far ahead, Rothrock will continue to stay in the moment through the rest of her Roncalli career and her eventual time at Florida. But with how special her talent is, there is no doubt the future is bright, and someday, Rothrock hopes to perhaps take her softball career to the biggest stage.
“After college, I have always dreamed of playing in the Olympics,” Rothrock said. “I think my first Olympics I might be able to try out for will be the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. That’s always been one of my goals, to work hard enough to get to that level and fulfill that dream.”
An Olympics appearance may just be the height of what could end up being a legendary career for Rothrock. But for now, as she finishes her Roncalli career, it’s all about adding to her legacy, one pitch, at-bat and game at a time.
“I just hope to leave a legacy of working hard and not expecting things to be handed to you,” Rothrock said. “I just want to be an inspiration to those coming in after me. With hard work, you can achieve anything you put your mind to, no matter if you’re good at it, bad at it or anything in between. Hard work can get you a really long way and it’s very rewarding when your hard work does pay off. It’s a great feeling.”
