21 strikeouts in a game? Sacramento-area softball ace joins short list with feat

How good was Destiny Christian Academy High School softball ace Ayla Tuua’s performance last week?

If the postgame handshake line between the Lions and the Rio Linda Knights was any indicator, it tells the whole story.

Despite being shut out on a one-hitter from Tuua, an LSU-committed junior flamethrower, several members of the losing Rio Linda team couldn’t help but smile and sing Tuua’s praises. They wanted her to know that they acknowledged just how good she is at softball.

“It’s just so humbling,” Tuua said after Thursday night’s 4-0 win.

Tuua recorded all 21 outs via the strikeout. Only a one-out single in the fourth inning kept her from a perfect game. Otherwise, Tuua gave her defense the night off. Her performance was a stark reminder why reigning two-time CIF Northern California champion Destiny Christian should not be underestimated for a three-peat. (The school was known as Capital Christian before a church takeover last summer.)

But after each victory with gaudy individual stat lines in the circle, Tuua remains as grounded as can be, humble and praising her teammates.

“On the mound, I was just focused. That’s really all I can do,” Tuua said. “Every time, it’s a new pitch, starting fresh mentally. But it’s really great to know that I have my teammates behind me, so it’s a great opportunity.”

Tuua joins an exclusive list of only 17 other players in California to strike out 21 batters in a seven-inning game, according to Cal-Hi Sports. She is the first Sacramento-area player to accomplish the feat since Amy Windmiller of Mira Loma struck out 21 against Lindhurst in 1989. Oddly enough, two players have 22 strikeouts in a seven-inning game, with the 22nd coming presumably on dropped third strikes.

Tuua also homered on Thursday, a towering fly ball that traveled well beyond the left-center field fence at Rio Linda and gave her 25 career home runs through 56 career varsity games. She became the first freshman to win The Sacramento Bee’s All Metro Player of the Year two years ago when she was a freshman and she was named The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year last season.

While the school name and uniforms have changed, the end goal for the program has not: becoming a three-peat CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and NorCal champion.

And Tuua aims to lead the Lions’ charge.

“Mentally, I’m just gonna keep grinding and do what I can to support my teammates,” Tuua said. “There’s definitely an expectation from outside perspectives, but on the field is what really matters. We are a younger team, but we’re still ready to grow. Every day, we come to practice and give 100%, and that’s why we’re able to do what we do.”

Local statistical standouts

▪ Making quite the introduction to high school varsity softball is El Camino freshman Claire Schwartz, who entered this week hitting .800 (16-for-20) over the Eagles’ first seven games. That includes three home runs and 13 RBI.

▪ Madison Martin of Mesa Verde matches the .800 clip through the Mavericks’ first four games. The junior has two homers and 13 RBI.

▪ Del Oro’s Abby Davidson, Rocklin’s Katie Wetteland and Placer’s Paige Denniston all entered the week with a Sac-Joaquin Section-leading five home runs. Davis sophomore Isabella Trask and Lindhurst junior Ashlynn Wheeler aren’t far behind with four each.

▪ Wheeler is also one of three Sacramento region pitchers who entered the week with sub-1.00 earned run averages, carrying a section-best 0.31 ERA over 22.2 innings. Through 37 innings, Kennedy senior Kaylena Ogle held a 0.57 ERA while Oak Ridge senior Ellison Schroeder, who is committed to play at Santa Clara, sat at 0.87 through 48.1 innings for The Bee’s top-ranked Trojans.

The Bee’s Top 20

(Records entering Tuesday)

1. Oak Ridge (12-0)

2. Del Oro (12-1)

3. Rocklin (9-1)

4. Destiny Christian (4-1)

5. Pleasant Grove (2-1)

6. Whitney (6-4)

7. Pioneer (7-2)

8. Vacaville (4-4)

9. East Nicolaus (6-1)

10. Sheldon (6-3)

11. Woodcreek (7-3)

12. Granite Bay (4-3)

13. Davis (10-4)

14. Franklin (8-5-1)

15. Bella Vista (6-4)

16. Inderkum (6-6)

17. Folsom (6-3-2)

18. Woodland Christian (9-1)

19. Sutter (6-4)

20. Laguna Creek (5-2)

Bubble: Christian Brothers (4-6); Dixon (3-1); Elk Grove (5-6); Oakmont (4-4); Placer (7-3); Ponderosa (4-6); Rio Linda (8-3); River Valley (8-1); Roseville (3-3); West Park (3-4); Wheatland (6-4); Yuba City (6-2-1)

Nick Pecoraro is a sports journalist and host of “Premier Preps with Nick Pecoraro,” a weekly prep show available on YouTube that recaps games and teams in the Sacramento area each week. Find it at youtube.com/@PremierPreps.

This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM.