Most think about the Triple Crown as something a hitter chases after. Typically, that includes recording the highest batting average, most home runs and most RBI in a season.
But there is also a Triple Crown for pitchers, which is wins recorded, strikeouts and having the lowest earned run average.
This summer in Iowa high school softball, Cedar Rapids Xavier ace Braylen Conlon is in pursuit of the Triple Crown. The senior ranks first in strikeouts with 253, is second with an earned run average of 0.42 and is third in wins with 23.
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Conlon has 253 strikeouts, which is 12 ahead of second place Rachel Eglseder of Edgewood-Colesburg. Her earned run average is behind WACO freshman Savannah Harris, who owns an ERA of 0.26, with her 23 wins one behind co-leaders Sophia Schlader of Waukee Northwest and Taryn Fredrickson of Creston.
In terms of fellow Class 4A pitchers, Conlon is first in earned run average and strikeouts while sitting second behind Fredrickson.
Cedar Rapids Xavier is currently ranked No. 1 in 4A with a record of 34-5 overall. Conlon is also one of the top hitters for the Saints, batting .485 with five home runs, 10 doubles, 21 RBI and 52 runs scored.
Conlon will head off to pitch for Western Kentucky University in the fall.
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