Johnson posts 300th strikeout in Farragut career
She just didn’t realize it until after the fact.
In the Lady Admirals’ 4-0 district win over Hardin Valley, the junior ace rang up the 300th strikeout of her Farragut career. It also was her 14th strikeout of the game, as she finished with 16 punch-outs on the day for 302 to that point in her time as a Lady Admiral.
“I didn’t even know I was close, so it was a good surprise,” Johnson said with a laugh last week. “They said it over the loudspeaker, and that’s how I found out. I was kind of shocked, actually, but it was a good thing for sure.”
The Radford commitment noted she does not focus on numbers, waiting until the end of each season to check her statistics for that year.
Rather, she focuses on each game as it comes, taking one batter at a time.
That approach reflects the overall mentality within the FHS program, as head coach Nick Green said he was not aware of Johnson’s accomplishment until after the fact.
“But it’s still a great accomplishment considering she’s just at the start of her junior year,” he said. “There aren’t too many people who get to that mark. It’s a direct reflection of the time and effort that Hallie Grace puts in.”
Johnson credited her catcher, Rylee Raby, and her pitching coach, former FHS pitcher and Western Michigan standout Leah Bucklen, for their parts in her success.
Bucklen — previously Leah Seffernick — tops the list for the Lady Admiral strikeout total, racking up 987 from 1996 through 1999.
Johnson is now seventh all time in Farragut softball history while Lakyn Moore is sixth at 348.
Johnson is not the only FHS pitcher to find recent success, as Hudson Bradford gave up just one hit with five strikeouts in last week’s 12-0 win over Oak Ridge.
In total, the Lady Ads posted shutouts in six of their last seven outings coming into this week.
