Strikeout specialist: Central York ace mowing down opponents

The scores still roll off Courtney Coppersmith's tongue. 

3-2 to Penn Manor. And 1-0 to Hempfield. Central York's one-run losses in last year's District 3 and PIAA playoffs. 

It's been close to a year since those games took place. But Central York's star pitcher isn't one to let go of defeat easily. 

And for good reason. 

Since becoming the Panthers' primary pitcher last season, Coppersmith's only losses have been those playoff games. 

So you can understand why they still motivate her. 

"Winning a district title is something I really want," Coppersmith said. "I would love to have that medal around my neck. My team really wants it and we have a really good team so far." 

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The Panthers do have a really good team, one that won the last three YAIAA titles and just rolled to an undefeated regular season. But the past two years, the biggest difference between the Panthers and other local programs has been the girl in the circle. 

The most dominant pitcher in the York-Adams league.  

Last season, Coppersmith went 12-0 with 128 strikeouts and a 0.71 ERA in the regular season. So far this spring, she's been even more outstanding, going 13-0 and giving up just four earned runs. In 83 innings, she's allowed only 15 hits and 15 walks while striking out an astounding 203 batters. That's an average of 2.4 strikeouts per inning. 

Oh, and she's batting .438. 

The senior will continue her softball career next season at Division I Maryland, Baltimore County. But as good as she routinely is, Coppersmith is the type of player who fixates on that one hit she did allow, that one pitch she put in the wrong spot. 

She believes that mindset is part of what has made her so successful. 

"There's always things I can do to get better," she said. "There are definitely good hitters out there and sometimes they'll get one off me. But there's always little things I can do to improve and get more speed on the ball.

"You've always got to think that next time you can do better."

• • •

Coppersmith laughs when asked if she was a natural at softball.

In her words? 

"Oh gosh no, I was so bad," she said. "Like, it was really bad. I don't think anyone is a natural at anything. Even if you're OK to start out there is a lot of work to do."

Coppersmith started playing baseball at the age of 8 with her twin brother, Robert. She switched to softball the next year, where despite being left-handed, she played third base because of her strong arm. By the age of 11, she was in the pitching circle. 

Over the past seven years, Coppersmith has worked relentlessly to hone her craft. In addition to playing on club teams in the offseason and throwing for hours on end, she stretches constantly and lifts weights.

This past school year, she's participated in Central York's powerlifting program, run by school trainer Gary Lang. She squats and deadlifts twice a week, often before school starts, and does cardio workouts two other days. 

It's a lot, but the senior loves it. 

"If I'm at home watching TV, I'm always spinning a ball in my hand," she said. "A lot of times I swing a bucket over my head to increase arm speed. Little things like that. I still do workouts during game days in the season. And if we aren't hitting that day at practice, I talk to the baseball coaches to see if I can get some extra swings in with them."

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So where does her drive come from? 

Coppersmith credits her father, Bob, for instilling a strong work ethic in her and her siblings. At the same time, her dad is quick to point out that his daughter has always been competitive. 

"She has that drive and that commitment and over the years it's grown with her," Bob Coppersmith said. "Not only with softball but also academics. She always used to compete with one of her friends over their grades. With softball, she wants to be the best for herself and her team."

Along with her strong work ethic, or perhaps because of it, Coppersmith has thrived as a pitcher thanks to a impressively deep arsenal.

The 5-foot-9 lefty has seven pitches she's capable of throwing. In addition to a fastball that's been clocked at 67 miles per hour (approximately 90 mph in baseball), Coppersmith uses a changeup, curveball, screwball, dropball, riseball and a flip changeup. 

"It depends on the situation, but I usually use four (pitches) in a given game," she said. "Some people say they have seven pitches, but if it's not moving for you then do you really have that pitch? You have to work until you have it mastered." 

• • • 

It took a fluke accident to get Coppersmith to take a break from softball earlier this spring. 

A few days before the season was set to start, she was finishing a personal pitching workout when her coach's young son hit her in the head with a baseball and gave her a concussion. With the first week of the season postponed due to rain and snow, she didn't miss any games. 

Still, the week off from practice drove her crazy. 

"I wasn't allowed to be on my phone or go on the computer or watch TV and I was going insane," Coppersmith said. "All I could do was walk and I had to just watch in practice. It's not something I want to go through again." 

For someone so dedicated to her sport, Coppersmith has plenty of other things to keep her busy. A future chemistry major, she's currently taking multiple AP classes. She also works part-time at Rutters. 

Her schedule is so hectic, her father often has to tell her to fit recreational time into her schedule.

"We have discussion where we say, 'You need to take a break and take your mind off things," Bob Coppersmith said. "Watch some TV, go to mall, refresh yourself. I've always told her to find a balance and make time for herself."

Still, Coppersmith enjoys being busy and working hard. One of the main reasons she chose UMBC is because it's an honors college that requires its athletes to maintain a certain GPA. 

With her final postseason upon her, Coppersmith is excited for the challenge of helping Central York win its first District 3 title since 2005. The top-seeded Panthers have a bye in the first round, and will play their first game on Thursday.

She knows she'll be the center of attention for opponents, but she's determined to focus on what she can control. 

"I try not to think about (other teams knowing who I am)," she said. "If I do I put more pressure on myself and it does not end well. At this point, everyone knows who the other top girls are too."