Jayna Witzany ties Mount Mercy record with 18 strikeouts in celebratory Senior Day win

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jayna Witzany’s final Mount Mercy home start was indicative of her stellar career.

The Mustangs’ pitcher was honored in a pre-game ceremony, receiving a plaque for reaching the 1,000-strikeout plateau Thursday against Grand View. She was also recognized alongside teammates and family during Senior Day festivities.

“I don’t think I’ve stopped for two hours,” Witzany said. “It was exciting and sad all in one. I’ve been playing on this field for five years. I’ve loved every second I’ve gotten to be out there. That’s it.”

Witzany composed herself and produced a dominant performance that defined her play. She struck out 18 batters, tying a Mustangs’ single-game record, and pitched her 39th career shutout in a 7-0 victory over Graceland Saturday in the opener of a Heart of America Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at Busse Field. Witzany added icing to the celebratory cake, working two innings of scoreless relief for the save in a 4-1 win and the sweep.

“The players helped me a lot,” Witzany said. “Rylee (Goodfellow) at third comes up to me all the time. She always has positive words of encouragement. … My teammates were supporting me. I knew I had to pull myself together for them and for coaches, too.”

Witzany (18-6) stymied Graceland, allowing one hit and tying the single-game strikeout mark set by Becca Smith in 2009. She collected three strikeouts in each of the first four innings, fanning nine batters in a row. Witzany struck out each Graceland starter at least once and the Yellow Jackets only put four balls in play, including a groundout to Witzany for the final out with a shot at sole possession of the single-game record.

“I was aware,” Witzany said. “Some girls were confused as to what was going on and others shushing them, telling them not to jinx it. I tried to put it off and not acknowledge it. Our biggest goal was to win the game. No matter if I reached a new record or not, we’re going to get the victory. That is what my end goal was.”

The outing was a fitting way to end her career at home. The team wanted to close this chapter in grand fashion. The Mustangs scored four runs in the second highlighted by Abbey Smith’s two-run double. They added three more in the sixth, which was more than plenty.

“It’s awesome,” Mount Mercy Coach Larry Yoder said. “She loves it but her teammates have so much respect for her. It was so much fun for them, too. They’re pulling for her. I think that’s the fun part of it all, the way they pull together.

“It is a team thing, but she’s doing the bulk of the work. It’s because people are supporting her.”

The resume is long and the numbers are even more staggering. Witzany finished with 22 total strikeouts, giving her 1,024 for her career. She became just the eighth player in NAIA history to surpass 1,000 strikeouts in about 43 years of championships competition.

“In that time, less than 10 people have done what she’s done,” Yoder said. “It’s truly amazing.

“You have to be an incredible player, No. 1. You have to stay healthy and you have to have good teammates around you and everything has to fall into place for it to happen.”

In addition to school marks for career strikeouts and shutouts, she extended her program record with her 81st victory Saturday. Witzany is the only Mustang pitcher to tally at least 300 strikeouts in a season, doing it twice. Her 275 whiffs this season ranks among the country’s best, as well as her 0.80 earned-run average before Game 2. The ERA ranks first all-time at Mount Mercy.

Dependability and durability have been just as important as her skill in the circle.

“She’s one tough cookie,” Yoder said. “I can’t ever remember where she missed a start or anything. She’s battled through a lot.

“It’s amazing for her to be that consistent to get to that record.”

Yoder said Witzany arrived at Mount Mercy with plenty of ability and potential. Witzany developed into an all-around pitcher, learning how to pitch and identifying what to do in each situation.

“She had skills to pitch when she came in but she learned how to pitch here,” Yoder said. “She learned her approach. We talk about one pitch at a time and not looking ahead or back on the last pitch. I think that’s where she’s improved.”

The NAIA and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American will lead the Mustangs into the conference tournament. She won’t let this soak in until the season has concluded. Witzany wants to help lead the team back to the NAIA World Series.

“It was great to have my team, my coaches and all the support through all of it,” Witzany said. “The accolades are exciting but I’m just happy to be playing.”

In the nightcap, Rylee Goodfellow had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs to help lead Mount Mercy to the victory. The Mustangs improved to 29-16 overall and 18-8 in the conference, earning the No. 3 seed in the HAAC tournament May 4-7 at Baldwin City, Kan.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com