It’s the small sacrifices that make the difference for great pitchers.
For Edison junior Lynsey Carter, it means a little less sleep the night before a game, but opposing batters would probably prefer she was better rested.
After two years at shortstop with only an occasional game on the mound, Carter has taken over the top spot in Edison’s rotation, where she averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning during the regular season as the Eagles claimed their fourth National District title in five years.
“Before games I don’t sleep on my right side,” said Carter, who last week was named the National District pitcher of the year. “My arm gets sore if I sleep on my right side so I just try to be conscious of it when I’m sleeping.”
A little physical discomfort isn’t the only thing she’s had to overcome. Carter has been pleased with her success, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled about being the starting pitcher in the first place.
“I was really scared. I didn’t have anything to say because I didn’t know what I was going to do because I hadn’t been pitching so much,” said Carter, who pitched 11 innings last year but struck out 11 in that brief span.
She’s not a huge fan of all the attention, and she has a healthy fear of her own position. As a freshman, she had her four front teeth knocked out by a line drive back to the circle in a summer league game. After surgeries, implants and mouth reconstructions, she’s fine physically, but the memory lingers.
“Before every game I kind of get scared a little bit because it’s still not really that old of an incident. It’s a little scary, but you just try not to think about it,” said Carter.
Luckily for Edison coach John Dooley, four-year starter Autumn Strawderman was more than capable during Carter’s first two years. Defense was the team’s strength during Strawderman’s tenure – Edison had 15 wins or more in each of her four years – as she accounted for around four strikeouts a game. With Carter striking out 13 or 15 a night, the task is often simply to keep the defense awake.
“I go home at the end of the night, and I don’t need to pick up the book,” said Dooley. “I’m able to put all the plays in my mind because she’s really been the workhorse carrying the load.”
Carter would rather the talk be about the Eagles (15-2, 11-1 district), who know the real measure of success would be awin or two in the Northern Region Tournament.
“I know that my stats are pretty good, but I still am a little wary about what’s happened. I’m a little reluctant to think about it too much,” said Carter, who takes more pleasure in pleasing her friends and family.
“Your friends talk to you a lot about it, and my dad has more stuff for his scrapbook, I guess,” said Carter. “Them being happy makes me happy.”
Making her pitch
» Carter’s stats: 12-1 record, with 146 strikeouts in 73 innings. She also has an ERA of 0.67, and has given up 26 walks and 30 hits.
» Edison had four players named to the All-National District first team: Carter, senior catcher Sara Brown, sophomore first baseman Elizabeth Gillespie, and senior second baseman Jennifer Benison.
» With the addition of Loudoun Valley into the National District Tournament this season, the district title is awarded to the regular season champion.
