Pitch Perfect

A by-the-numbers look at UW's dominant Danielle Lawrie.

By Matthew Halverson

Photo: Courtesy University of Washington Athletics

“Pretty good for a girl” doesn’t apply to Danielle Lawrie. The University of Washington senior flamethrower—who will no doubt lead the reigning-champion Huskies deep into the NCAA post-season tournament this month—is easily the hardest-throwing pitcher in college softball. But with stats that make her male counterparts look weak by comparison, she might also be the most dominant pitcher in all of Seattle.

116⅔

Consecutive innings pitched in May 2009
Nonconsecutive innings thrown by Mariners ace Felix Hernandez that month: 37⅓

13

Strikeouts thrown per nine innings last May
Strikeouts thrown per nine innings by the Huskies baseball pitching staff that month: 7.1

10

Male Seattle writers and broadcasters who faced off against Lawrie in a media exhibition last summer
Number who hit a ball into play: 1

69

Speed of Lawrie’s fastball, in miles per hour
Comparable speed for a baseball pitch, taking into account softball’s shorter distance between the mound and plate: 98

21

Complete-game shutouts thrown last season
Multipitcher shutouts thrown by the Huskies baseball team last season: 2

24

Strikeouts logged in the Huskies’ record-setting 15-inning NCAA tournament win, on May 17, 2009
Strikeouts logged by a total of eight Mariners pitchers in the club’s own 15-inning affair, on May 3, 2009: 12