The smile never seems to leave Sydney Brown’s face. Whether she’s working on her rise ball in the bullpen, shagging balls in left field or staring down hitters in this season’s biggest games, that bright and cheery grin accompanies her.
“I think it freaks batters out,” catcher Kinsey Martin said. “She has this type of confidence where I’m confident to call anything in any count and I know it’ll be OK.”
Brown has plenty reason to be confident. She has 153 strikeouts in 90 innings this year, boasting a 1.24 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. She also hit .364 at the plate with four home runs and 20 RBI this season for the 3A Greater St. Helens League and West Central/Southwest bi-district champions.
Most recently, she went toe to toe with Washington state’s all-time career strikeout leader, Bonney Lake’s Brooke Nelson, “and beat her,” coach Ashleigh Byrne said. She struck out 12 and allowed just four hits in the 7-1 win over the defending champion Panthers.
“Honestly going into that game was kind of stressful. I was definitely a little intimidated too,” Brown said. “She’s definitely an idol; she’s so good. You can learn a lot.”
It wasn’t the first time Brown and Nelson faced off — they’ve seen each other in summer ball, too — and the Thunder are hoping it’s not the last. Mountain View (21-2) and Bonney Lake are on the opposite side of the 3A State Tournament bracket, which starts Friday at the RAC in Lacey. A championship meeting would be “crazy,” Brown says.
That’s the goal for the youthful Thunder squad, though. That journey starts at 9 a.m. Friday against Juanita.
“They know they have the capability to beat anybody,” Byrne said. “So I think it’s going to be great.”
As it often does for the state’s best softball teams, everything starts in the circle. Brown was named the 3A GSHL Player of the Year after her incredible season.
But few knew who she was entering the year. She barely pitched last season, and calls this her “first full season pitching.”
Her catcher, too, just started playing the position last year and the two have developed a special bond.
“She’s my favorite catcher,” Brown said of the sophomore Martin. “Half of the credit should go to Kinsey.”
Martin started catching as a freshman and quickly took a liking to it. She calls all of Brown’s pitches and has an incredible feel for the game, Byrne said. Martin has benefited from the talent of Brown, too.
“Catching a high level pitcher from the start forces you to block the toughest balls and to catch hard pitching,” said Martin, who added that her hand hurts every day she’s tasked with stopping Brown’s 62-mph riseballs.
Those same pitches were just 58 mph last season, and Martin has seen the growth of the young ace the past year. The two worked together nearly every day through January, February and March to get ready for what they though would be a stellar year.
Brown boasts a strong repertoire of offerings. Her screwball and riseball are particularly intimidating, and her changeup can be an out-pitch, too.
“There’s not a best pitch to call,” Martin said. “All of her pitches are so versatile, and they all make batters look stupid, honnestly.”
Brown is hoping to commit to a college after this summer. She currently has five offers, including from Western, Central and Eastern Washington universities. For now, she’s just eager to meet Nelson, a University of Washington signee, again, and hopes it’s in the state title game.
“We know they’re coming back at us and coming back at us hard,” Brown said. “There’s a very good chance it can happen and we’re just trying to prepare for it.”
