Katie Burkhart
Encyclopedia
Katherine Burkhart is an American
softball
pitcher
who plays for the USA Softball team. Burkhart plays professionally in the United States for the USSSA Pride
in the NPF
in addition to playing in Japan
.
. While struggling in her freshman year with a record of 12 wins and 14 losses, Burkhart improved throughout her career with the Sun Devils. In her junior and senior years, she was selected as the best pitcher in the conference and was awarded Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year. In her senior year, Arizona State won the 2008 Women's College World Series
, and Burkhart was named the Most Outstanding Player. She pitched back-to-back shutouts against Texas A&M University
, with 13 strikeout
s in the final game to clinch the title. This was Arizona State's first WCWS championship under the current format. For her senior season, Burkhart compiled 41 wins
, 513 strikeouts, and a 0.75 ERA
, the third-best in the NCAA
. In her college career overall, Burkhart set an Arizona State record for strikeouts with 1,670. She also holds a single-season Pac-10 record for strikeouts, with 517 in her junior year.
During the summer of 2007, Burkhart also competed in the Amateur Softball Association
with other college players on the Stratford Brakettes
.
Draft. After posting league highs of 13 wins and a 1.87 ERA along with team highs of 149 strikeouts, 15 complete game
s, and 131⅔ innings pitched during her rookie season in the NPF, Burkhart was voted as the NPF Player of the Year. For the American offseason, Burkhart commenced her rookie season in the Japan Softball Association’s Women’s Major League Softball.
.
Burkhart was first named to the USA Softball national team on June 15, 2009. She made her first appearance at the 2009 Canada Cup and combined with Jennie Finch
to pitch a no-hitter
against the Netherlands
, which the United States won 8–0 in five innings due to the run rule
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who plays for the USA Softball team. Burkhart plays professionally in the United States for the USSSA Pride
USSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
in the NPF
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
in addition to playing in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
College career
Burkhart played softball for Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. While struggling in her freshman year with a record of 12 wins and 14 losses, Burkhart improved throughout her career with the Sun Devils. In her junior and senior years, she was selected as the best pitcher in the conference and was awarded Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year. In her senior year, Arizona State won the 2008 Women's College World Series
2008 Women's College World Series
The 2008 Women's College World Series was held May 29 through June 4, 2008 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Eight NCAA Division I college softball teams met after having advanced through a 64-team bracket to play at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium...
, and Burkhart was named the Most Outstanding Player. She pitched back-to-back shutouts against Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, with 13 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in the final game to clinch the title. This was Arizona State's first WCWS championship under the current format. For her senior season, Burkhart compiled 41 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 513 strikeouts, and a 0.75 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, the third-best in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
. In her college career overall, Burkhart set an Arizona State record for strikeouts with 1,670. She also holds a single-season Pac-10 record for strikeouts, with 517 in her junior year.
During the summer of 2007, Burkhart also competed in the Amateur Softball Association
Amateur Softball Association
The Amateur Softball Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. ...
with other college players on the Stratford Brakettes
Connecticut Brakettes
The Connecticut Brakettes is a women's fastpitch softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. The team has won many state, regional, national, and international tournaments .- History :...
.
Professional career
On February 18, 2008, before her final season at Arizona State, Burkhart was selected first overall in the National Pro FastpitchNational Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
Draft. After posting league highs of 13 wins and a 1.87 ERA along with team highs of 149 strikeouts, 15 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, and 131⅔ innings pitched during her rookie season in the NPF, Burkhart was voted as the NPF Player of the Year. For the American offseason, Burkhart commenced her rookie season in the Japan Softball Association’s Women’s Major League Softball.
International competition
In 2006, Burkhart was part of an American team of college players that won gold at the 2006 World University Games in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Burkhart was first named to the USA Softball national team on June 15, 2009. She made her first appearance at the 2009 Canada Cup and combined with Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
to pitch a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, which the United States won 8–0 in five innings due to the run rule
Mercy rule
A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule , brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team...
.