Brooke Mitchell doesn't say much about what she's accomplished at Louisiana the past three seasons. She doesn't need to.

After two very good seasons at UL, the 5-foot-6 Pasadena, Texas, native emerged as one the elite pitchers in college softball this season. In mid-February she threw four no-hitters in a two-week span.

It was enough to make her season. But for Mitchell, it was just the beginning.

"She's the most extraordinary story in college softball," said Michael Lotief, UL's co-head coach. "She's been able to accomplish what she has because she's worked her butt off and has a heart as big as a car."

Mitchell, who won 46 games her first two seasons, nearly matched that number this season. She is 41-3 heading into today's game against South Carolina. This season she set school records for wins and strikeouts (484) while becoming the 12th player in NCAA softball history to win 40 games in a season.

She also ranks second in the nation in victories, strikeouts per seven innings (12.1) and total strikeouts, and has the third-best ERA (0.55 through 279 innings).

"It's her drive," said teammate Danyele Gomez. "She just doesn't give up."

Mitchell was a major player as the Ragin' Cajuns repeated as the Sun Belt Conference champions.

"She's amazingly good," Gomez said. "To average nearly 13 strikeouts a game is unbelievable."

But to Mitchell, it's all in a day's work.

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By Fred Robinson
The Times-Picayune
frobinson@timespicayune.com
(504) 826-3412