By DOUG DONNELLY

LANSING – Whiteford graduate Unity Nelson has been named Miss Softball / Pitcher by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.

Nelson finished her senior season with a 20-3 record and 292 strikeouts in just 147.2 innings pitched. She had an ERA of 0.75, allowing just 16 earned runs all season.

https://www.mhssca.com/miss-softball

For her career, she won 84 and lost 9 and struck out a school-record 1,156 batters in 555 and two-thirds innings pitched. Her career ERA was 0.542. She allowed just 43 earned runs in her four years.

“People that have watched her pitch know that they want her on their team,” Whiteford coach Matt VanBrandt said.

Nelson was Whiteford’s only choice on the Division 3 All-State softball team this year. She led the Bobcats to a third consecutive state championship game. The last two ended with 1-0 losses by Whiteford.

Nelson is the first Tri-County Conference pitcher to be names Miss Softball since the coaches association started choosing the award in 1994. Two TCC players – Melissa Taylor for Summerfield in 1997 and Aly VanBrandt from Whiteford in 2023 – were Miss Softball / Position Players. She is the second pitcher from Monroe County Region to win the honor, the other being SMCC’s Meghan Beaubien.

Nelson, who will pitch next year at the University of North Dakota, was named First Team All-State all four seasons she played for the Bobcats.