A Quest For Pitch Perfection

Kelly Barnhill has logged a perfect game and a handful of no-hitters this season. So what’s the NCAA’s best pitcher still out to prove?

- Jessica Mendoza

With a rise ball that leaves batters swinging at ghosts, Florida’s Kelly Barnhill is a dreaded sight in the circle. But after the Gators’ runner-up finish last year, which included an epic 17-inning loss to Oklahoma in Game 1 of the national championship series, Barnhill won’t be satisfied until she claims the title of Women’s College World Series champ. As Florida heads into the postseason, ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza spoke to Barnhill about her updated arsenal, her struggle with illegal-pitch calls and her 2020 Olympic dreams.

ESPN: In the offseason, you added swim workouts, a nutritionist and a sports psychologist to your routine. When did it occur to you that “I need to be doing things differently to get myself better”? 

KELLY BARNHILL: There was a realization that hit at the World Series last year. We lost. We’re not the national champions. This other team gets to celebrate. They get to have the confetti thrown. You’re just sitting there watching them feel happy and dogpile, and you’re like, “This sucks.” 

You guys have bracelets to remind you of the combined score?

Yep. 12-9. Coach [Tim] Walton didn’t want us to forget about it. He wanted us to remember it and hold on to that so we’re thinking about it. And each day we want to get 1 percent better. If everyone is getting 1 percent better, then the team is getting better. 

How has that been sitting with you? 

Looking at that 12-9, that’s a three-run difference. Three more runs to win a national championship. Or not giving up those three runs to win a national championship.