George Washington softball pitcher Sierra Lange returns from injury with outstanding 2021 season
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BVM) — Although not the most important body part for a pitcher, the legs are still key in the pitching motion. An injury to the arms is far more common, but an injury to the lower limbs could be equally devastating.
In 2020, Geroge Washington softball pitcher Sierra Lange suffered a torn ACL and partial meniscus tear, causing her to miss the entire season.聽
The road to recovery was a long one, with Lange unable to walk for 5-6 weeks after the surgery to repair her knee.
Months later, the impacts of the injury still lingered as Lange attempted to return to the mound.
鈥淚t was definitely harder to get back into it.鈥� said Lange. 鈥淚 felt like I really had to start over.鈥澛�
Getting over the fear of reinjury was not easy for Lange, especially as her upper body continued to be in good condition to pitch. The main problem wasn鈥檛 pain or discomfort from the injury, it was the fear of aggravating the ACL tear.
鈥淚t was all about getting over the fear of reinjuring. The leg I land on is the one I hurt,鈥� said Lange.
Thankfully, her teammates knew exactly what she was going through.聽 Designated hitter and first baseman Alessandra Ponce suffered an ACL tear earlier in her career as a Colonial, and her recovery process was what brought Lange and Ponce together as friends.
Years later, the roles were switched, and it was Ponce supporting Lange through her recovery.聽
鈥淧once tore her ACL and helping her practice sliding helped grow our friendship,鈥� said Lange. 鈥淪he did the same for me as we did for her.鈥�
Thanks to the support of her teammates, Lange had an outstanding return in 2021. Posting a 21-10 record, Lange threw 201 strikeouts, first in the Atlantic 10 and 26th in the country.聽
Her 20 complete games and 179.1 innings pitched also topped the division. Lange matched the high usage rate with a 1.80 earned run average, continuing her dominance despite carrying an extremely heavy workload for a post-injury season.
Lange kept opposing batters silent all season long, highlighted by throwing her first career no-hitter on April 17 at St. Joseph’s University.
When asked about what throwing a no-hitter felt like, Lange immediately began to praise her teammates who had been there for her all the way during her recovery.聽
鈥淢y defense really had my back,鈥� said Lange. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get a no-hitter without an amazing defense behind you.鈥澛�
Additionally, Lange praised the pitch calling from her catcher Jessia Linquist, humbly describing her feat as a team effort.
Together, Lange and the Colonials brought George Washington University to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament at the Baton Rouge Regionals.聽
Lange, who鈥檚 played in front of large audiences before as a member of the Philippines national team, couldn鈥檛 find words to describe how taking the mound in the Regionals felt.
鈥淭here is something special about those games.鈥� said Lange 鈥淚t鈥檚 a totally different atmosphere. Having to go to Baton Rouge and play at a large stadium with fans there, I felt so much adrenaline. I can鈥檛 even explain it.鈥�
The Colonials were left winless in the double elimination tournament, falling to Louisiana 0-1 in an 11-inning thriller, and losing to McNeese State 0-12.聽
Lange made it clear that the Colonials would be back in the NCAA tournament next year, and it would be more than a winless appearance.
鈥淲e want to make it to regionals and make it far,鈥� said Lange. 鈥淲e want to actually compete in regionals. We don鈥檛 want to just be there as the underdog.鈥�
The Colonials will attempt to win the A-10 Championship again in 2022, albeit with a different team.
NFCA All-American Jenna Cone has graduated and now will be an assistant coach at Eastern Carolina University. She leaves George Washington for Eastern Carolina alongside former coach Shane Winkler, who left the Colonials for the Pirates in May.
The departure of Winkler has been especially impactful on Lange and her teammates, with the team still coachless now in July.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a little stressful, but we鈥檙e having meeting calls every two weeks, and they鈥檙e [George Washington Athletics] keeping us updated,鈥� said Lange. 鈥淭hey ask for our input and really take the steps to understand what we need.鈥�
Regardless of who鈥檚 coaching the team, the Colonials still have an extremely talented roster leading them into the coming season.
With Lange leading the way, George Washington University is set to continue their rise in 2022.
