Player of the Year

Maddy Prough

SCHOOL Bentonville High

CLASS Senior

HEIGHT 5-7

POSITION Pitcher

THE SCOOP An all-star selection for the second straight year, Prough finished the season with a 23-1 record and a 1.23 ERA and led the Lady Tigers to their second straight Class 7A state championship. … She allowed just 33 runs (25 earned) on 87 hits over 142.1 innings, and she struck out 228 batters while issuing just 23 walks. … She threw four perfect games, including an April 27 game against Rogers High where she struck out 19 of the 21 batters she faced, and she struck out 10 or more batters in 12 games. … During one stretch of the season, Prough went 42.2 innings without allowing a run and 51 innings with allowing an earned run.

DID YOU KNOW Prough has had a late change of heart about her collegiate plans. She had signed a national letter of intent in November to play softball at Crowder College, but made a switch after the season ended and will now go to Central Arkansas.

QUOTABLE “Obviously, it was a successful season. It was definitely a lot different from last year, especially with me being a senior because I had to take on the leadership role a lot more,” Prough said. “Even if you are a pitcher, you have to be a leader all the time, and me being a senior made it an even bigger role. There was a lot more responsibilities, like being a role model for the team. It was different, but the outcome was the same. I think the team became a lot closer, and the thing I will remember is the new friends I made on this team.”
