St. Edward senior pitcher Alaina Nolan has one eye on the history books and the other firmly on the prize—a deep postseason run. The Columbia-bound standout is closing in on the program's all-time strikeout record, but don't expect her to get caught up in the numbers.
"I don't go out looking for a record," Nolan said with a shrug after a dominant performance. "I just go out and pitch as hard as I can to get a win. If I can gather a few strikeouts, all that other stuff will come."
That winning mindset was on full display Wednesday, as Nolan fired a two-hitter with nine strikeouts in St. Edward's 16-0 rout of Wheaton Academy. The game, shortened to four innings by the mercy rule, showcased exactly why she's one of the most feared pitchers in the Chicagoland Christian Conference.
But Nolan isn't just a force in the circle. She also led the Green Wave's offensive explosion with three hits—including a double—four runs scored and three RBIs, boosting her season average to .361. Junior shortstop Layne Dawson chipped in with two hits and two RBIs as St. Edward (8-5, 6-2) capitalized on nine walks from Wheaton Academy's pitchers.
For Nolan, the immediate goal is clear: lead the Green Wave to a second straight regional title and push deeper into the playoffs than last year's sectional semifinal exit. The strikeout record? That's just a bonus.
"I just focus on winning," she said.
It's that approach that has caught the attention of Columbia University in New York, where Nolan will take her talents next season. But before she trades her St. Edward jersey for the Lions' blue and white, she has unfinished business in Elgin.
Her velocity has been ticking up, too. In February, Nolan posted on social media that she hit a personal-best 66 mph during a lesson with longtime pitching coach Eliot Narotsky. St. Edward coach Jerry Kublank has noticed the difference.
"Every year I believe she's been a little faster," Kublank said. "Maybe 10%—it's possible."
With that kind of heat and a focus on team success, Nolan is proving that records are nice, but championships are what truly define a legacy.