Bowling Green State University Athletics
Dominant Freshman: Vrabel's Pitching Key For Falcon Softball Team
May 12, 2003 | Softball
May 1, 2003
By BARTT DAVIS, Sentinel Sports Writer - Liz Vrabel was ready to abandon the idea of playing softball in college.
Burned out from the work it took to recover from a back injury, Vrabel was prepared to simply concentrate on being a college student.
But one game into her senior season at North Allegheny High School in suburban Pittsburgh, Vrabel found the love of the game again.
Now she's thriving as a freshman pitcher on Bowling Green's softball team. The Falcons' ace in the circle, Vrabel carries a 14-9 record into this weekend's season-ending Mid-American Conference series against Eastern Michigan. BG is 22-24-1 overall, 12-9 in the MAC.
"I was just a little burned out," Vrabel said of her decision not to pursue college softball. "I had a stress fracture when I was 16 and I was off for six months. What I had to do to recover was so hard. I just got tired after working out every single day. I just needed a break.
"After my first game my senior year, I realized I had made a total mistake and I wanted to play ball again."
The realization almost came too late.
Virginia, East Carolina, Robert Morris and Eastern Michigan were among the schools who showed significant interest in the right-hander.
Instead, Vrabel was all set to attend Penn State and no longer stare in at opposing hitters.
"I didn't know what to do because I had basically cut off all my connections to college coaches and I didn't think there was any chance," Vrabel said. "My Dad told me to just go out there and call people. I didn't have any choice but to just be up front with coaches and call them."
Then came Vrabel's break.
A coach from a team she'd played against in high school called BG coach Leigh Ross-Shaw.
"I got a call in May from a coach of a player I didin't get, a pitcher from Pennsylvania who went to Virginia Tech," Ross-Shaw said. "Her coach really liked Bowling Green and thought the player made a wrong choice. He called me and told me about (Liz).
"I went there the next day and watched a game. As soon as I saw this kid, I thought she was an impact pitcher. She could come into the MAC and the MAC wouldn't know what to do with this girl. She throws really hard."
So hard, in fact, that hardly any of her high school opponents could touch her.
Vrabel was 19-0 with a 0.10 earned-run average and 217 strikeouts in 143 innings as a senior. She threw a three-hitter in helping North Allegheny win the state championship.
She finished her high school career with a 43-8 record and 560 strikeouts, relying almost exclusively on a blazing fastball.
The statistics, though, don't matter to Vrabel.
"I don't really even know any of my stats," she said. "My dad could tell you, but I don't worry about that stuff. I don't want to get caught up in that."
She committed to BG in June and has been a force for the Falcons this season.
Since coming to BG, Vrabel has added several pitches to complement her 65-68 mph fastball.
"I picked up the curveball, screwball and riseball," Vrabel said. "I'm still working with a changeup. I don't have a very good one.
"In high school, I could just blow the ball past people. The hitters here, everyone is good. You can't just strike people out."
Vrabel's education in college softball has been enhanced by BG's two veteran pitchers -- junior Jody Johnson and senior McKenna Houle.
Instead of being upset at the loss of potential time in the circle to a freshman, the two have helped Vrabel and the team improve.
"They've been very supportive," Vrabel said. "Before games they'll tell me about hitters. Jody has helped me with my new changeup. They pump me up before every game. It helps a lot."
"We've always had strong pitchers and pitchers who could keep hitters off-balance for a while, but Liz is just overpowering," Ross-Shaw said. "She's definitely earned the right to be number one."
Vrabel has started 13 of BG's 21 MAC games and generally starts the single game and one of the two games in the doubleheader in each weekend series.
She's posted a 1.20 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings this season. She has allowed just 89 hits and 38 walks.
She's also helped the Falcons control their own destiny in terms of making the MAC Tournament.
"We're not really thinking too far ahead," Vrabel said. "We're just taking it day by day, doing as much as we can to prepare ourselves."
And most importantly, Vrabel is just having fun playing softball again.
"I'm very happy," Vrabel said. "I don't want to be anywhere else."
