With a three-strikeout, four-hit performance Monday night, McCracken County senior Addley Leidecker clinched her 51st career win from inside the pitcher’s circle. The feat marks the best from any hurlers in Lady Mustang history, beating out Audrey Dodd, who set the previous record at 50 back in 2016.
As the senior stepped up for her first pitch Monday night against the Ballard Memorial Lady Bombers, she knew the record was within reach, yet she stayed cool, calm and collected from first pitch, to last.
“The past few games I had been pretty nervous, but last night I just felt normal and confident,” Leidecker said. “I didn’t even feel any pressure on me. I just felt like myself.”
The career-setting performance consisted of 72 pitches, 48 of which were strikes, with 24 batters faced.
“Addley is playing really well,” McCracken County head coach Tony Hayden said. “The last two games she’s pitched, she’s been very effective. Last night she pitched a shutout and it looks like she’s back to being very comfortable out there.”
While the record was never something she was specifically on the hunt for, Addley is proud of herself for reaching the milestone, but more thankful for her teammates and coaching staff for helping her get to where she is.
“All of my coaches have pushed me and helped me play at my best,” Leidecker said. “My pitching coach Christa Franklin has been working with me since I was little and I give a lot of praise to her. I also wouldn’t be here without my teammates. They’ve played behind me for the last three or four years and I’m just grateful for them, because they are definitely the reason that I’m here right now.”
While McCracken County has only been a school since 2013, the Lady Mustangs have seen plenty of talented pitchers come through the ranks, making the 51 wins and counting by Addley that much more impressive.
Coach Hayden has coached all of those pitchers, but says Leidecker breaking this record speaks to how special of a talent she is.
“The record that Audrey Dodd set hasn’t even come close to being touched until Addley came along,” Hayden said. “A lot of other girls got around 28 to 36 wins, but it all started with her being comfortable from an early age as a freshman and sophomore. She won games early and that helped her get to a great year she had last year. All of that confidence and all of those wins accumulate and become the standard.”
As for what the next goal she wants to achieve, she isn’t focused so much on a personal goal as much as she is on helping the Lady Mustangs get back to Lexington.
“I really want to help get this team back to the state tournament this year,” Leidecker said. “We didn’t quite make it last year, so we are just pushing really hard to get back there this year.”
She says she feels her pitching game is just where it needs to be in order to help her team get there.
The Lady Mustangs will be back in action on Thursday as they take on the Graves County Lady Eagles as they get ready for their last 10 regular season games before the district tournament.