by Kyle Parmley – Fastpitch Network
Many hitters have stepped into the box and underestimated Bronwyn Borden.
And many of them have slumped back to the dugout, shaking their head after an unsuccessful at-bat.
There’s more to Borden than meets the eye. She stands an unassuming 5-foot-3 in the pitcher’s circle, but has never let her size deter her from raising her stock as a Class of 2023 prospect.
“I definitely go out there and give 110% because I do want to show people that just because I’m small doesn’t mean I can’t throw hard and be really good,” Borden said.
Borden is a three-sport athlete at Brewer High School in Alabama and has played with the Prospex softball organization for the last five years.
As a pitcher, Borden said her curveball and her changeup are her two best pitchers, and she tops out around 62 miles per hour. The key for a pitcher her size is using her whole body to get the desired effect on her pitches.
“I try to make sure I drive with my legs,” she said.
When a hitter does make her pay for a mistake, a circumstance becoming less and less common, the mental toughness already required of someone of her stature translates into the ability to quickly move on and not dwell on things.
“I just try to wash it away and think next batter,” she said.
Matt Adams, who runs the Prospex program, called Borden a hard worker who plays well beyond her size.
“She can beat you in the circle multiple ways,” Adams said. “She has a very good changeup that she can throw in any count. But what makes her tough is she can also throw it by you with good velocity and late movement.”
Borden can also play outfield or middle infield when not in the circle, but she has earned the respect of dozens of hitters who have stepped in the batter’s box and presumed an easy hit was coming.
“I definitely think that I’ve grown a lot in the past year or so,” she said. “I’ve gotten a lot better, but I still have a long way to go. I feel like I can do so much more if I just keep working.”
Part of that growth is in her knowledge of the game, which is in the upper echelon of players her age.
“She is not a pitcher who just throws what is called from the dugout or by the catcher,” Adams said. “She really does understand why she throws certain pitches in particular counts and situations. She is smart above her age.”
Borden recently became part of the National Scouting Report (NSR) database and she has been pleasantly surprised with the interest her profile has garnered in such a short time.
“It’s very exciting, because with my NSR profile, it really makes me feel better and makes me think I have potential to be recruited,” Borden said.
Borden’s recruiting process will in essence begin in September, when college coaches are permitted to contact her during her junior year. She knows some schools will not look past the surface of her measurables, but she is trusting in herself and the strides she makes daily to get better.
“I faced the fact that this is just how I was born,” she said. “I definitely try to always work hard, because my time will come. Somebody will notice me if I keep working.”
You won’t catch Borden without a smile on her face and she strives to be an encouraging and uplifting player with any team she plays on.
“She is a great kid who is one of the hardest working kids you will find. She is a student of the game, which is hard to find in most players,” Adams said.