College Pitches Buoy Hoover’s Evans

Despite being named the Pacific League’s most valuable player as a freshman and sophomore, Hoover High softball player Nancy Evans has not let her ego run amok.

Evans, a 5-foot-7 junior right-hander, has taken her talent for granted since she began pitching nearly seven years ago.

But she realized she might have a special ability after she started receiving recruiting notices in the mail last summer.

“I never considered myself a very good pitcher. It never really dawned on me,” Evans said. “Now that I have colleges (recruiting) me . . . it’s kinda surprising.”

Opposing batters probably are not surprised at the attention Evans has received. In three games last week, she struck out 57 in 27 innings and pitched three one-hitters. Evans struck out 26 in 13 innings--and lost, 2-0, to Burbank. One of her strikeout victims scored the winning run after reaching base on a passed ball.

Evans, 16, rebounded with shutouts against Bell-Jeff on Friday and Burroughs on Saturday. Evans was perfect through six innings against Bell-Jeff before giving up an infield hit. She struck out 14.

Against Burroughs, Evans struck out 17 and gave up one hit--a bunt single.

In 77 innings, Evans (9-2) has struck out 137 and has given up 19 hits and three earned runs (0.27).

Although she has not thrown a no-hitter this season, Evans has eight one-hitters.

Pitching is not the only thing Evans does well. As the Tornadoes’ leadoff batter, Evans has 12 hits in 32 at-bats (.375) with six runs batted in, three doubles and two home runs.

“She’s a franchise builder,” Hoover Coach Kirt Kohlmeier said.

Evans, who holds a 3.6 grade-point average and is leaning toward UCLA, said one of her pitches was clocked as high as 60 m.p.h. last season.

Under the tutelage of assistant Bob Vanderberg, Evans has added pitches.

“Last season my main pitches were my rise and screwball,” Evans said. “Now I have a drop, and it works. So, I have a much bigger array of pitches to throw.”

Kohlmeier is convinced that Evans, who calls her own pitches, is one of the best softball pitchers in high school or college. “I watch all the (college softball) games on ESPN,” Kohlmeier said. “And she throws as well as any of them.”