Southpaw showcase
June 4th, 2008, 6:38 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Mark Heller
In 10 postseason pitching appearances in 2008, Katie Burkhart pitched 53 innings, allowing 28 hits and three runs while recording 95 strikeouts.
Since we’ve seen the last of Katie Burkhart in an Arizona State uniform, where does she rank among the best left-handed athletes in school history?
Burkhart did not need to pitch ASU to a national title to cement her place among all-time Sun Devil softball greats. She was already there.
But after this year’s Women’s College World Series, the ace hurler has earned her way into the discussion of the school’s most accomplished athletes — woman or lefty, take your pick.
ASU can count Phil Mickelson, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday, Floyd Bannister, Larry Gura and Burkhart among its superb southpaws. James Harden – who was in attendance with men’s basketball teammates at Wednesday’s softball championship rally — could someday join that group.
You tell us: Who do you think is/was ASU’s best-ever left-hander?