Sarah Willis Soaking up Every Moment with AU Pro Softball

“I’m just having such a great experience, just getting to be able to be out here with so many people who I’ve looked up to throughout my whole life, from playing with Keilani Ricketts at AUX, who I’ve looked up to since I was 10 years old,” Willis said after a recent practice session. “Now playing with Taylor McQuillin and Aleshia Ocasio and Odicci (Alexander), all these great pitchers, great hitters, great outfielders, great infielders, just multitude of people I’ve looked up to and getting to know them on more of a personal level, not just a fan of softball, it’s been super cool. “

Willis has a 3.00 ERA this season. She enters Week Five ranked 29th on the overall leaderboard. 

This comes on the heels of a college career that saw her display the same positive traits at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Even so, she is assuming nothing, which accounts for her exuberant presence.

“I didn’t think I was going to get to play softball after I finished my college season,” she said. “Every day out here, I don’t take it for granted whatsoever because you never know. I could not get asked back. I could get hurt, which would prohibit me from playing. So there’s all these different things; outside factors that I can’t control.

“I need to control what I need to control, which is how good my attitude is, how much energy I bring, and just go out there and have a good time. Whether I’m on the field or I’m in the dugout, I’m having the best time because it’s so great to be around these great people, amazing players and to get to compete against them, too.”

Willis’ college career included pitching the first perfect game in UCF history on April 28, 2023. 

“I think it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and definitely one of the best fielding games that I’ve ever had because I got so many balls hit back to me,” she said. “It was an out-of-body experience, to say the least, because I didn’t realize until probably the fourth or fifth inning. I didn’t say anything out loud while it was happening, and nobody was saying anything to me.

“I was glad. In the seventh inning, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, OK. I’ve got to stay locked in. Everything’s fine.’ But my team really had my back that game, especially scoring a lot of runs and having a great defensive game as well. People were making great plays.”

One thing Willis has brought with her from the college level to Athletes Unlimited is a pitching motion – not to mention a devastating changeup – that includes a distinct rocking motion with loads of deception. 

“I kind of just made it up,” she said. “There’s no rhyme or reason to why I do my pre-pitch motion. But I’d say the reason my windup is that way is called trunking. It’s hiding the ball. I have the ball in my glove as long as I can until I get to my K position. But I really like the way I pitch in the sense of me getting into my legs really hard because I’m not the tallest pitcher. I have to gather a lot of my energy. Using my legs is really important for me because when I use my legs I’m not even throwing hard, but I’m getting my body together to be able to throw good pitches at different speeds, not just one. Being able to throw multiple speeds.”

The intrigue with Willis starts well before she throws a pitch in the game. Watch closely, and you’ll notice that her first warmup pitch comes not underhand, but overhand – and with conviction behind it. Given Willis’ cerebral approach to the game, there’s a method to what seems like madness to others.

“It’s just getting my arm loose because I don’t get to play catch like everybody else in between innings,” she said. “I feel like sometimes it’s hard for pitchers because you get into such a groove of just throwing underhand that it’ll feel wonky to throw the ball overhand.

“If I get a groundball back to me, something you see a lot of is pitchers run and toss it (to first base). So I do that one first pitch to get my arm loose. My coach used to say I do it to intimidate people, but I just do it for fun. Something fun to do. It gets me locked in with the catcher, and then I’m locked in to start throwing.”

Willis is a threat with the bat, as well. In this day of designated hitters and designated players, it’s not all pitchers who can help their team both ways. Willis relishes the opportunity to swing the bat. 

“I love getting the opportunity for batting, outfield, baserunning,” she said. “Any extra things are super fun for me because it’s helpful to the team, especially if I don’t do my best on one side, I can make up for it on the other. I love hitting. It also helps me stay in tune with my pitching because you have to use your lower body for both of them. It’s the main part. The swing is your lower body and pitching, as well. So I feel it’s helpful to me because I’m always constantly moving my body.

“Keilani Ricketts was one of the first people I saw who was a hitting pitcher when I was younger. I was like, ‘I can do that.’ People are telling me pitchers can’t hit, but I’m like, ‘If I work hard enough, it’s not even about being as good as others, you have to put yourself on top and work 10 times harder as they do because you have pitching and being able to be your best self at all of them.’”

Willis’ good nature is underpinned by a strong work ethic, something that earned her respect at UCF. She said she was attracted to AU Pro Softball because its values match hers. 

“One thing that attracted me was the caliber of competition,” she said. “There are so many great people to play against and play with. I’ve been looking up to some of these people since I was a little kid. Getting to play against them and play with them and also just learning things from them, learning little tidbits or things they think they can help me be better.

“What really attracted me was the amount of opportunities that people get to show that it’s not just about softball —  people posting about their experiences with the fans, the season-ticket holders, all of that stuff. It’s really cool to see how big this league is becoming from just five years. They have multiple sports, too, so I feel it’s such a great community. It’s a great networking experience to be here because you meet so many people from different schools, who coach at different schools. There are so many different things. But I definitely have to say that the quality of competitiveness here is unmatched by some of the other leagues I’ve seen.”

Bruce Miles has covered sports in the Chicago area for 45 years, including baseball, hockey, football, and Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball. Follow him on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.