Hastings Softball's Tinsman dominating competition as a freshman

HASTINGS, Neb. – The Hastings High softball team is starting off another season hot, thanks to an experienced roster, plus one notable freshman who is making her name known.

"I think the sky's the limit for her as long as she continues to work the way she has," said Hastings Softball Head Coach Blake Marquardt. "I have no doubt she'll put that time and effort into it."

When Ella Tinsman is in the circle, a lot of opposing hitters end up headed back to the dugout without leaving the batter’s box.

"Usually, I want to strike everybody out." said Tinsman.

In 10 appearances this season, the freshman hurler has struck out 66 batters or 40% of hitters who have come to the plate.

Tinsman was the opening day starter against Gering which was a start to remember.

"I was a little nervous my first time, but now I've gotten the hang of it," said Tinsman. "Everybody's really nice and they support me."

In the three-inning run rule victory, Tinsman faced nine batters. Seven of them struck out, and the other two didn’t reach base for a perfect game.

Less than a week later, Tinsman did it again, throwing a five-inning perfect game against McCook while striking out eight hitters.

"It was pretty crazy, I honestly really didn't know it until the 4th inning, so then I thought I just needed to get the outs." said Tinsman.

This season, Tinsman has started seven games and pitched a complete game shutout in all but one of those games.

On Tuesday, Tinsman came on in relief and picked up her 7th win of the season. She and Head Coach Blake Marquardt accredit her success to a relentless work ethic.

"I've pitching with her since probably seven or eight years old, and it's been an awesome bond her and I have created," said Marquardt. "She works just as hard on her own with or without me. Between her and her dad too, they work extremely hard on their own, so her passion and her drive are why she's had the success she's had."

"I've been practicing a lot, like pitching four times a week since I've been 10," said Tinsman. "I also like hitting, so whenever I hit good it feeds into my success pitching."

Of course, there’s no ‘I’ in team as the other two Hastings pitchers Madi Wenzl and Brooke Ochsner have combined with Tinsman to allow an average of just over three runs per game, while the offense averages over eight runs per game.

Hastings is 11-2 about midway through the season and the Tigers are looking to return to state for the third time in the past four seasons.