Eagles first-year pitcher throws no-hitter, perfect game in Kirkwood win streak
The National Junior College Athletic Association has chosen a stand-out pitcher at Kirkwood Community College as a National Player of the Week. Amanda Lambrecht has earned the Division II Pitcher of the Week honor for leading Kirkwood to four more wins in a stellar early season.
The first-year player from East Moline, Ill. has amassed some impressive stats. On March 15, against Mineral Area College (MO), Lambrecht was a walk shy of perfection. She went five innings with one walk and 15 strikeouts. The next day she was called upon again and in a close 1-0 win over Jefferson College (Mo.), Lambrecht threw seven innings giving up just three hits with no runs allowed, two walks and 13 strikeouts.
Three days later, in her most dominating performance of the week and possibly her career, she finally attained perfection. Lambrecht went five innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, and 13 strikeouts, just two strikeouts shy of recording every out in the game as a K. Two days later against William Penn, she gave up just one hit, no runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts through six innings of work.
In the week that included a no-hitter and a perfect game, Lambrecht totaled 23 innings giving up just four hits with no runs, five walks, and a magnificent 48 strikeouts.
Head Coach Joe Yegge says he expected big things from the freshman, “but to be honest I didn’t think it would be like this. Amanda has been a great addition to us this year. For her to have that kind of week says a lot about her ability, Mineral Area went to Nationals last year and Jefferson College is a very talented D-1 program. We are very blessed to have her and the other pitchers on our staff.”
The Quad Cities native earned several honors during her prep play at Alleman Catholic in Rock Island. Lambrecht was a three-time Western Big 6 All Conference Pitcher and two-time Dispatch/Argus Metro Pacesetter Player. In her senior year she was named the Dispatch/Argus Metro Player of the year.
After graduating from Kirkwood’s Exercise Science program, Lambrecht plans to complete her studies at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville while continuing as a student-athlete.