PARKER BOYD PITCHES during game earlier this season. The Battle Ground standout was named GSHL co-player of the year.
THE BATTLE GROUND TIGERS former ace Parker Boyd deals in a game vs Skyview. Next year she will face batters at the college level.
Battle Ground softball had a year that won’t be forgotten anytime soon, much of which can be credited to star pitcher Parker Boyd.
In her senior season, Boyd was nothing short of spectacular. With an ERA (earned run average) under one, she was nearly untouchable and a big reason why the Tigers racked up a league and district championship as well as set a new school record for wins at 20-3.
“We had high expectations for ourselves” said Boyd. “Losing before state hurt, but we gave it everything we had this year, so I’m satisfied.”
Boyd anchored the team from day one of the season and thrived in the role, but the skill set she steps to the mound with today wasn’t made overnight. It took four long years of hard and dedicated work to pull off what she achieved.
“I remember freshman year on JV my rise ball would go over my catcher’s head regularly; I used to be all over the place sometimes,” said Boyd.
Accuracy was an issue early on, but when Boyd narrowed her focus down to mentally taking one pitch at a time, the pathway to success began to pave itself. By the end of her sophomore year Boyd was the Tigers’ starting pitcher, and now at the end of her senior season she may go down as one of the best in program history.
“She’s honestly an irreplaceable player,” said Head Coach Arielle Wiser. “We have girls coming up that we’re confident in, but there’s no substitute for the history she made and leadership she brought.”
The ace was named the GSHL co-player of the year, and should be in the mix for all-state awards recognition which comes out in another week or so.
Unfortunately, for Tigers fans, Boyd’s days donning the orange and black are through, but her softball career is far from over. Next year she’s headed off to play Division I ball at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania on a full-ride scholarship.
The transition from high school to college competition will be challenging, but Boyd is confident going in that she can adapt quickly and find success.
“Reading batters is something I think I’ll come in strong with,” said Boyd. “Things they do there like watching a lot of film will help, too.”
After three years of coaching Boyd, Wiser knows better than most what it will take for her to be effective at the college level, but has the utmost confidence.
“If she can learn to trust her defense and get outs without worrying if it was a strikeout or not I think she can do good things in their program,” she said.
Lehigh’s softball program has posted a winning record every season for more than a decade. Given that, it’s no surprise their coaching staff found interest in a talent like Boyd.
