When Sophia Beckett is on the mound, all eyes are on her. That’s natural, being a pitcher. And it’s exactly how she likes it.
Growing up as an only child, Beckett, a senior, is accustomed to being the center of attention. With very few relatives who are her age, she’s very popular during family get-togethers. Questions about her life are fired at her as quickly as her fastball.
Following a sparkling junior season where she recorded more than 200 strikeouts and committed to play for Endicott College, she is now being recognized as one of the most dominant hurlers in the area.
“I like the pressure of being a pitcher,” Beckett said. “I’m an only child so I think that goes into it. I get a lot of attention from my family and I think that correlates on the mound. When I’m in the circle, the game is at my speed. It goes as I want it to go. I like how I pitch affects the team.”
Beckett’s ascension has been a steady one since she threw her first pitch on a whim. Her third-grade coach asked if anyone wanted to try. Against her mom’s wishes — like any parent, she feared a comebacker to her daughter’s face — Beckett volunteered. She threw a strike on her first try and has loved it since.
Beckett — who’s no one-trick pony with a .381 batting average last year while also playing first and third base — has continually improved from that first pitch. But she points to the summer after her sophomore season — the main college recruiting season — when she improved her mechanics and added 4-5 mph on her fastball that has helped her make the jump to a bona fide stud on the mound.
Ironically, Beckett points to her changeup as her favorite pitch. She learned it in middle school, adding her curveball soon after.
”It may sound bad but it is so satisfying to see a girl chase a changeup,” Beckett said. “It’s a crucial pitch for me because my fastball isn’t crazy insanely fast so I have to have a strong off-speed pitch when I need a strike.”
Sarah Woodside, who before becoming the head coach at Wayland High School was the high school team’s pitching coach, has seen the difference, albeit more than just speed on her pitches.
“The biggest jump for Sophia has been her growth in maturity and presence,” she said. “As a sophomore, she had the ability — but now, as a senior, she truly understands how to control a game. She’s able to shake things off and reset, focusing fully on each new batter.
“She’s improved her pitch sequencing, her ability to make adjustments mid-inning, and her overall leadership on the field. There’s a different level of confidence now — she trusts her stuff, and more importantly, she trusts herself.”
Beckett concurred, pointing to how she now composes herself when she doesn’t have complete control of some of her pitches or when she gets herself into a jam. She says she’ll now take more time to warm up before an inning starts. Or, during the game, she’ll walk around the pitching circle and take a second to breathe.
“You need a certain mentality as a pitcher,” she explained. “You’re going to fail way more than you succeed. You have to be able to move on to the next pitch or batter.”
With milestones accomplished — she notched her 400th career strikeout in a 10-1 victory over Waltham on April 9 — and a college team secured, Beckett hopes she can help guide the Warriors into unaccustomed territory: post-season games. With a playoff drought dating back to 2009, Beckett is happy to put the team on her shoulders.
“I think this could be (Wayland’s) best shot at the playoffs since 2009,” said Beckett, who is co-captain for the second season. First baseman Kelsey Kaufmann and shortstop Kiera Hines are also captains. “A lot of people expect us to make the playoffs. I’m happy to put more (pressure) on myself to do it.”
Woodside agrees that as Beckett goes, so does the team.
“We expect Sophia to be a true anchor for us — someone we can rely on in big games and big moments,” she said. “She’s going to give us a chance to win every time she steps on the mound, and I think she’ll continue to elevate the players around her as well. It’s not just about her performance — it’s about how she impacts the entire team. She sets a standard and gives others something to strive for every time they step on the field.”
