Plimpton earns more pitching honors
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Chelsea Plimpton is the all-time strikeout leader in New York State high school softball. She also has over 100 career wins. File photo

Chelsea Plimpton can add 100 career wins and New York State all-time strikeout leader to her already unbelievable high school softball resume.

The Williamsville South senior pitcher hit win No. 100 with a 7-0 victory over Hamburg on Monday, May 14 and recorded No. 101 in an 11-0 shutout against Sweet Home on Wednesday, May 16. Plimpton also struck out 12 Sweet Home batters to give her 1,283 career strikeouts, surpassing the previous all-time mark of 1,278 set by Jamesville-Dewitt's Sarah Reed. Only Barb Cook of Susquehanna Valley (117) and Reed (107) has more career victories.

Plimpton said she had no idea she had accomplished either goal.

"My dad (Mark) told me after each game, 'congratulations' and I said 'what?' " said Plimpton, who has only six career losses. "Then he told me."

"It's nice," she added. "If the records happen, they happen but it's only a little piece of it (wants to win a third state title; South won titles with her as starting pitcher in 2004 and 2006)."

Through the James "Ace" Morabito Tournament, Plimpton has 1,331 career strikeouts and 103 career wins.

Plimpton, named All-Western New York Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, sophomore and junior, already has the single-season strikeout state record of 411, which she set last year and is eighth on the list with 293 in 2005. She's also listed in the state record books for career perfect games (nine, tied for first), most perfect games in a season (3, second, 2005), career no-hitters (15, third), most no-hitters in a season (5, tied for third, 2005), single-game strikeouts (23, tied for first, 2005; 22, second, 2006), career shutouts (74, second), single season shutouts (22, second, 2006), lowest single-season ERA (0.10, fifth, 2005; tied for tenth, 0.14, 2006), and lowest career ERA (0.252, fourth through 2006).

Ms. Perfect

Plimpton always strives for perfection on the mound. Before the Morabito Tournament last weekend, she only walked 37 out of 2,473 career batters. There is no state record for least amount of career walks but if it was recorded, she'd own it.

"Her accuracy is incredible," said South coach Gerry Gentner. "She looks for perfection. When she strikes out 20 batters, she wants to strike out 21." "When she makes a mistake, she's hard on herself but not rattled," he added. "I've never had a player with that kind of mental strength to just block the play out."

Gentner has been working with Plimpton ever since she and her father attended one of Gentner's pitching clinics when she was 10.

"She has been fortunate enough to have one pitching instructor in me," said Gentner. "Sometimes kids have a number of different people telling them what to do. Mr. Plimpton stayed out of the way and allowed me to develop Chelsea."

Like how a father argues with his daughter, Gentner and Plimpton have had their differences. Gentner signals catcher Lisa Fronczak what pitch Plimpton should throw and Plimpton shakes off between five to 10 calls a game.

"I disagree with him and he gets mad, but we laugh about it later," said Plimpton.

"We've had some stumbling blocks on a continued basis on what pitch to throw but that's for a pursuit of greatness," said Gentner. "However we've done it, it's worked."

Because Plimpton is fundamentally sound, she can throw an array of pitches (curve, screw, rise, change-up and drop) without the need for a fastball.

"There's no need for a fastball," Plimpton said. "Why throw a fastball when you can throw something better?"

Her favorite pitch to throw is a riseball, which when released, provides backspin and combined with arm and leg strength, causes the ball to rise as it moves to the batter.

"It's the most fun to get people out," she said. "When I'm at the plate and I swing at one, I think, 'why did I swing at that?'"

Plimpton also takes care of her body in the offseason, training twice a week with Chuck Pelitera at the Women's Wellness Center on Hopkins Road.

Great backup Plimpton has been great her entire high school career but she's also had some phenomenal talent around her through the years that have gone on to play at Division I schools including Michelle Fridey (Liberty College) and Dana Carter (University at Buffalo). Those players have helped South to New York State titles in 2004 and 2006, four straight Section VI championships, half of South's 10 consecutive league championships, and a current 59-game win streak over divisional foes.

"I've never played on a weak team," said Plimpton, who will play at Division I- St. John's University in the fall. "I've always felt confident with my team and my coaches that it has allowed me to grow as a pitcher."

The greatest of all-time?

Plimpton's numbers speak for themselves, but is she the greatest high school pitcher in the history of New York State?

"When you look at the numbers in every category, she's the best ever in Western New York," said Gentner. "Can I say she's the best ever (in the state)? Yes. We know she's the best all-time for strikeouts, and she might be the best control pitcher ever. No one has the whole package like Chelsea."

Plimpton is a little more humble.

"Barb Cook is pretty good too," said Plimpton. "The numbers are nice, but I've had more time starting than everybody else (started last four years, 7-0 as eighth grader). A lot of these girls don't start until their junior year so no I don't think I'm the best pitcher in New York State. I just think I have the best numbers."

Teams are not finished facing a Plimpton. Chelsea's younger sister, Kyle, an eighth-grader, is penciled in as the starting pitcher for the Lady Billies next season.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com