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When you see Gloucester righthander, Stephanie Coates pitch, the one word that comes to mind when describing her is overpowering. 

The senior has given the Dukes a great presence in softball in the Peninsula District.  She’s got the numbers that make her a power pitcher, but it’s ironic she’s reluctant to see herself as one. 

“I guess I would consider myself a power pitcher, but I just to do my job”, she says. 

Coates’ numbers are jaw dropping to date.  In over 500 innings pitched, she’s got nearly 900 strikeouts.  An ERA that’s just barely over 0.50.  To go with that, how about 21 no-hitters so far, 10 of which were perfect games.

“When she pitches, she makes things a lot easier”, says head coach, Red Lindsay.  “If she strikes out 12, 13, 14 batters, that’s just a few outs in the field.  That takes a lot of pressure off the defense.” 

Coates handles the bat well too.  A career .400 hitter, she’ll be spending her college years at the University of Virginia.  For now, she’s about trying to get the Dukes back into the playoffs and in search of an elusive state title.