Lady Cougar McKenzie Holt surpassed the 300-strikeout mark for her career. Holt, a senior at Patrick County High School, reached the milestone despite only playing varsity for three years, but averaging over 100 strikeouts each of those seasons.
“We had to have her pitch JV in ninth grade because we didn’t have anybody else or she would have been pitching for us, even in 9th grade,” said head coach Ryan Pendleton.
Holt’s achievement is even more impressive when how much she has pitched in those three years. “She pitches half of the game,” said Pendleton. Some teams “run the same girl out there all game, every game. We try not to ruin their arms and split it up for them.”
When asked if she thinks about reaching 300 strikeouts, Holt responded, “not really.” Her focus is on the team going deep into the playoffs. “I think we can make it far if we hit.”
Of her career at Patrick County High, Holt said, “it feels like I just started yesterday, now it’s pretty much over.”
But it’s a career that will end with over 300 strikeouts.
“That’s a lot of strikeouts,” Coach Pendleton said.
