Heather Stearns can do it all at Hebron, and she will do the same at Baylor when she goes to college.
File photo by Keith Owens
When asked what her "most memorable highlight" has been, future Baylor Bear
Heather Stearns pauses. She must first determine if that highlight comes from when she was pitching or when she was in the batter's box.
Most would think the obvious answer would be her power display in the McKinney Tournament, when on March 3 against Pilot Point, Stearns hit four homers and drove in seven runs.
That would be her offensive highlight. But Stearns thinks of herself as a pitcher first, and therefore she says her 18 strikeouts against Burlison in a state playoff game during her sophomore year comes to mind.
But the four home runs grabbed national attention. As did her 12 homers on the season, as Hebron has played 28 games.
Heather Stearns, Hebron
File photo by Keith Owens
"I hit one each to left field and right field and two to center," said Stearns, who hits and pitches for
Hebron (Carrollton, Texas). "The ball looked fat and I was really relaxed in the box."
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations Record Book, the national record for home runs in a game is five, by Janet Weisenforth of Green Island Heatly (N.Y.) in 1977. Though Stearns is the first from Texas to do it, she ranks No. 2 with 13 other players.
It doesn't matter whether Stearns is pitching or hitting, she has put up some pretty lofty numbers.
She is batting .436 with 33 RBIs, nine doubles and is slugging a whopping 1.038. In the circle, though only 9-7, she has a 1.77 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 111 innings.
Hebron coach Staci Jackson says "as a pitcher, Stearns is dominant" and as a hitter, "she is feared."
Just ask the pitchers from Pilot Point. "Feared" might be an understatement. Then again, ask opposing batters, whom she strikes out 70 percent of the time.
"Pitching (is her strength) most definitely," said third-year coach Jackson. "She just dominates in the circle. She has velocity and movement. She's smarter and working every batter better this season."
Stearns was recruited for her pitching, but hitting long home runs also grabs attention. She hit a 270-footer in the Southlake Tournament.
Either works for Baylor coach Glenn Moore, who said, "Heather is possibly the most accomplished pitcher in North Texas. She should see the circle early and often as a Baylor Lady Bear."
Jackson says Baylor will let Stearns hit and pitch.
Stearns said she chose Baylor because she fell in love with the coaching staff, the college and the facilities.
"It is such a perfect fit for me," said the 5-foot-10 righthander. "The coaches have big backgrounds."
She was particularly impressed by Baylor pitching coach Britni Sneed Newman, a former Team USA player and All-American.
"It'll be amazing to be a Baylor Bear," Stearns said. "I want to be part of a championship team and break records. I want to be the best pitcher I can and I think I can at Baylor."
Being a Baylor Bear is still a few months away, but the preparation is there every day. For her high school, Stearns works out before and after school. She also runs three miles three times a week. During the non-prep season, she work outs five times a week. Her running includes bleachers, hills, sprints and distance.
"This year, I've really worked on getting in shape, being in shape and staying in shape," said Stearns. "I eat as healthy as I can."
She also hits 2-3 times a week for four or five hours. A typical pitching workout includes 15-20 pitches of each pitch. Then her pitching coach will chart 20 pitches to hit her spot.
"The goal is to get each pitch in a certain location," she said. "We spend a lot of time on spin drills, and long toss."
Stearns consistently throws in the low 60s and on a "good day" hits 64-65 mph. She throws a screwball, flip change, drop curve, rise and peels her drop. She says her screwball is her go-to pitch. According to Jackson, that hard work is what makes "Stearns the center of Hebron softball. She has brought Hebron softball to where it is today."
Her list of awards is long. It includes being a three-time All-District player, three-time All-State player, Area Pitcher of the Year, District Pitcher of the Year, District Defensive Player of the Year and Team MVP.
She was 23-11 with a 0.86 ERA, and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per seven innings while helping Hebron reach the state tournament for the first time. She threw a one-hitter in a 1-0 state semifinal loss to eventual Class 5A state champion Pearland.
"She is a great student, too, and is well respected around the school and in the community," said Jackson. "With only three players returning from last year's team, Stearns is carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders. Though our season has been a bit of a roller coaster, she molds the team together. She puts in extra work to make herself better and the younger kids feed off that."
A member of the Texas Rapid Fire, her travel squad advanced to Premier Nationals and Gold Colorado Fireworks in 2011 and Gold Nationals in 2010. But that is not the case with their year's Hebron team, 19-9 and only 5-6 in District play.
"She's really had to hold her own this year," Jackson said. "She's really had to show a lot of leadership and she most definitely has. She worked extremely hard over the offseason to really try and get stronger and hold her stamina up because she knows over the past two years during our playoff and state runs – it takes a toll on her."
Stearns is definitely a leader, and she has advice for young pitchers.
"I'd tell them to just keep going," she said. "Many times it gets tough and you question why you play the sport. Pitching is very difficult mentally and physically. It tests you in every way. Keep working and you will get there."
Those words of wisdom seem to be working well for Stearns.
