The career numbers are staggering, but Vanessa Strong’s final season will leave its own indelible mark on the record books at Freedom High School, where the Southern Utah-bound hurler completed a phenomenal four-year career in fashion this season.

Known for a tremendous work ethic, Strong lowered her ERA each year she was in the circle for the Falcons, and led her team to success in each season. In 2018, she was named Bay Valley Athletic League MVP for the second time, and Freedom won a share of its fourth straight league title. In each of her final three seasons, the Falcons advanced at least to the North Coast Section Division I semifinals, winning it all in the 2016 campaign.

“Vanessa was our leader. Everything started with her, and everyone else fell in line from there,” said Freedom coach Brook Russo. “Her work ethic was so good, it inspired everyone else to work harder.”

This year, with a number of newcomers on the Freedom roster, Strong took the lead both in the field and at the plate. In the circle, she was 18-2 with a 0.78 ERA, striking out 169 batters in 126 innings pitched. At the plate, she hit .423 with four home runs, five doubles, and 19 RBIs. Yet, those numbers don’t reflect her ability to perform in the biggest moments.

In a Livermore Stampede victory over Alhambra, Strong provided her offense, breaking a 2-2 tie with a two-run single, and then extending the lead with a two-run home run in her next at-bat. When the Falcons had one bad inning against Antioch in an early BVAL contest, and had to battle back from a four-run deficit, Strong singled in the game-tying run before winning the game with a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

As her senior season progressed into the post-season, Strong showed the same dominance which carried the Falcons to the 2016 title, and had them one run away from a title game appearance in 2017. In the quarterfinals, she was masterful against College Park, needing just 74 pitches to throw a perfect game, striking out 12 batters in the process.

“Vanessa is so good at hitting her spots, and moving the ball. Teams like College Park and most other teams had a difficult time hitting the ball against her,” Russo said. “To watch her do what she did (at Freedom) is amazing. Very few people can achieve what she did. She has done a lot of things that others simply can’t do.”

Yet, despite her success in her first three years of high school, Strong was uncertain of how her senior year would turn out. Not only did the Falcons boast some new players on the field, but she tore her meniscus in November, at the end of her fall travel season. She was fortunate that surgery was not required, but the injury did mean plenty of rehab and a sense of not knowing how she would perform in final season.

“I never thought I would have this level of success, especially this year, coming in with an injury,” Strong said. “But the team gave me a ton of run support early in the year, and it was great to be able to trust that, and know they would be there to pick me up.”

That humbling attitude is no surprise, coming from a player who would play in her own games, and then show up in uniform at youth games, showing younger kids how to pitch, and how to be a role model. It is also no change from the approach she took when Strong first arrived at Freedom.

“I was just hoping to make the junior varsity team in my freshman year. But this has become my family, and we’ve been so close to each other,” Strong stated. “Winning NCS my sophomore year will always be an amazing memory, especially after losing Coach Scott (Lunger) earlier that season, and this year it was really awesome to have some new players and still do so well.”

Strong now exits Freedom, leaving behind some large shoes to fill. Her career numbers include 61 wins in the circle, a career 1.48 ERA, and 694 strikeouts in 521 innings pitched. She also hit .363 for her career, with six home runs. And despite those lofty standards for the future of Freedom softball, she remains as surprised as always by the recognition.

“It is totally unexpected to be recognized with an award like this,” Strong said. “It is a real honor.”

For her efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Vanessa Strong as the North Coast Section Senior of the Year.

Other players considered for this award include Bishop O’Dowd’s Frankie Hammoude, Alameda’s Bella Vick, and John Swett’s Melika Ofoia.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS softball.