Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School softball program has a new single-season strikeouts record.

And it's the same record holder.

After setting the single-season strikeout mark as an eighth-grader a year ago, VHS freshman Emily Thompson struck out 12 — raising her season total to 173 — in an 11-1 win over Belleview in five innings Tuesday in Middleton.

The left-hander smashed her own previous record of 168 strikeouts set in 100 innings pitched last season, accomplishing the feat in 102.2 innings this spring — with two regular-season games and the postseason still to play.

Thompson recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 11th time in 19 appearances this season, while lowering her ERA to 2.45 this spring. She also helped herself out at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win.

Sydney Rich also went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while both Lexi Galewski and Layla Farrish each drove in a pair of
runs to help VHS earn its fifth win via mercy rule this season.

The Villages (12-11 overall) returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at home against Dunnellon. 


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.