Taylor Apple

Position:
RHP
Height:
5-5
Class:
Sophomore
High School:
West Alamance
Hometown:
Burlington, N.C.

2025: Started in 21 of her 38 appearances in the circle and led the Pirates with a 3.01 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 135 innings for a 13-8 record… Became the first Pirate pitcher since Lydia Ritchie to throw 100 or more strikeouts in back-to-back seasons … Recorded two saves this year against Loyola Chicago (Feb. 22) and Michigan (Mar. 5) … Tossed a season-high nine strikeouts twice against Tulsa (Mar. 15) and North Texas (May 3) … Earned AAC Honorable Mention on May 5 … Named to AAC All-Tournament Team ... Named to the American All-Academic Team.

2024: Started in 26 games and made 39 appearances in the circle as a freshman … Went 14-8 for a team-best 2.62 ERA and tossed 106 strikeouts in 157.2 innings pitched … Named to the AAC All-Rookie Team … Held batters faced to a hitting average of .210 … Became the first Pirate freshman pitcher since Toni Paisley in 2007 to throw at least 100 strikeouts in their first season … Named to the AAC Honor Roll twice … Recorded a complete game shutout against Saint Joseph’s (Mar. 2) … Combined with Jordan Hatch, Payton Hudson and Devin Long for the first no-hitter in Pirate softball against N.C. Central (Feb. 25) since Toni Paisley in 2011 … Her 2.62 ERA was seventh-best among AAC pitchers and 106 strikeouts were fifth-best ... Named to the AAC All-Academic Team ... Named to the Academic Honor Roll for the fall and spring semesters.

High School: Named softball player of the year by HighSchoolOT after posting season totals of 48 RBI, 15 home runs, and a 23-4 record in the circle with a 1.19 ERA and 352 strikeouts as a senior ... Led West Alamance to an appearance in the 3A NCHSAA State Championship ... NCHSAA Mid-State 3A/2A 2021 Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore, tallying a 1.24 ERA and throwing 171 strikes ... 2022 Co-Pitcher of the Year and 2022 Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a junior ... Hit .414 and added five home runs as a junior to lead the Warriors to the third round of the playoffs ... Recorded a 0.77 ERA and tossed 239 strikes on the mound as a junior ... Tied for No. 43 by Extra Innings Softball Top 100 ... Two-time all-conference, all-state, all-region and academic all-conference ... Two-time NCHSAA Performance of the Week honoree.