Sydney Borges winds up for a pitch. Credit: Courtesy
Sydney Borges throws a pitch on May 13. Credit: Courtesy
Sydney Borges yells at the mound after throwing a strike. Credit: Courtesy
Sydney Borges, center, gets the ball after securing her 500th career strikeout.
Sydney Borges walks back to the mound. Credit: Courtesy

ConVal junior pitcher Sydney Borges recorded her 500th career strikeout Wednesday in the Cougars’ home game against Souhegan.

Borges entered the game needing 11 strikeouts to reach the milestone and finished with 10 strikeouts in the first four innings, including the first six batters she faced.

The milestone strikeout came after a 10-pitch at-bat against Souhegan’s Grace Harrold, ending with a swinging strikeout before Borges was mobbed by teammates.

Former ConVal pitcher Courtney Fisher holds the school record with 775 strikeouts during her career, which included a state championship season in 2013 under then-head coach Jim Coppo.

“Fish was an incredible hurler and even better person. Syd has the same approach and works extremely hard,” Coppo said.

Borges recently threw a no-hitter against Bow, striking out 18 in an 8-0 win over the Falcons.

ConVal is 6-3 and scheduled to host Bow in a Memorial Day rematch at 3:30 p.m. A Memorial Day remembrance ceremony will take place before the game.

Ryann Brooks is the Ledger-Transcript editor. She was the 2023 Kansas Press Association Journalist of the Year. You can contact her at rbrooks@ledgertranscript.com.