Nowlin leads way for state champs
If the ball is in Taylor Nowlin's hands, so is the game.
This is the reason Nowlin loves being a pitcher. This is the reason her opponents hate seeing her in the circle.
Nowlin and Peoria Sunrise Mountain dominated Division II on the way to a state championship. Sunrise Mountain went 36-1 this season. Its only loss was to Glendale Mountain Ridge (the top seed in the Division I tournament) in the regular season. Nowlin was responsible for 21 of those wins. She recorded a 0.78 ERA and struck out 204 batters in 22 games pitched. Through five statetournament games, she saw just one run score while she was in the circle as Sunrise Mountain shut out its last four opponents to win the state championship.
For her efforts, Nowlin was named azcentral sports' 2013 Big Schools Softball Player of the Year.
“It means a lot to me,” said Nowlin, who also hit .402 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs, of the award.
“I’m very grateful I got it. But I wouldn't have gotten it without my team behind me making me look so good.”
Yes, the Grand Canyon-bound Nowlin is good. And humble.
“Taylor Nowlin is not just a good softball player,” Sunrise Mountain coach Jody Pruitt said. “She's just a great all-around player. For a kid with her commitment to her team to get that award, I'm just really proud of her. She deserves it. You couldn't pick a better person to have that kind of honor.”