Enka senior Courtney Pearson won 68 career games and two state championships for the Sugar Jets.
Courtney Pearson not only went out as a two-time state champion Saturday.
The Enka senior is among the NCHSAA’s all-time winningest softball pitchers with her four-year varsity record of 68-12. Pearson had a career earned-run average of 1.66 with 463 strikeouts in 531 innings pitched.
There are only 14 entries in the NCHSAA record book for career wins in fast-pitch softball, none from Western North Carolina. The state record belongs to Alexander Central’s Chelsea Wilkinson, who won 112 games from 2009 to 2012.
112, Chelsea Wilkinson (Alexander Central), 2009-12
106, Crystal Cox (Central Cabarrus), 1999-2002 (106-7)
100, Gina Allen (Central Cabarrus), 2003-06
93, Martha Hall (South Granville), 1996-99
92, Danielle Glosson (North Davidson), 2004-07
89, Lexi Shubert (Fred T. Foard), 2010-13
87, Mendy McKenzie (West Forsyth), 2002-05
75, Jaimee Radel (Swansboro), 2009-12
74, Kayla Cole (South Lenoir), 2005-08
74, Chelsea Leonard (Central Davidson), 2006-09
74, Chelsea White (East Rowan), 2008-11
73, Gina Allen (Central Cabarrus) 2003-05
71, Hannah Angel (Forbush), 2001-2004
71, Kiana Millsaps (Alexander Central), 2013-15
Pearson went 21-1 this past season and was named the Mountain Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year for a third time. Her earned run average was 1.51 with 110 strikeouts in 143.2 innings pitched.
Pearson was in the circle for both games of last week’s NCHSAA 3-A championship series in Greensboro. The Sugar Jets (26-3) beat C.B. Aycock, 8-6, on Friday and 5-3 on Saturday for their second consecutive state title.
Enka’s back-to-back state championships are the first repeat for Western North Carolina in NCHSAA softball since Owen (2-A) in 1999 and 2000. The state association did not offer fast-pitch softball until 1994.
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