Ashlynn Ford is always pushing to be the best of the best and hopes to be recognized as the best at season’s end.

“My goal for my team this year is to get us to state. Personally, I am striving for all-state pitcher or pitcher of the year,” said the Glenpool senior, who earned District 5A-4 Pitcher of the Year honors a year ago. “It was definitely an amazing accomplishment [to win pitcher of the year last year].”

Ford hasn’t disappointed in 2023. She’s recorded 111 strikeouts and has posted a 2.38 earned run average through the Warriors’ 19 games. She’s also been productive at the plate, hitting .348.

Her primary focus going into this season was to be a better teammate and player. She also wanted to be sharper mentally, especially after suffering an injury in 2022.

“I focused heavily on being mentally tough in the circle, and I believe that’s an area I’ve improved the most in,” Ford said. “Between struggling with a minor injury and having to pitch the bulk of the innings for our team, I felt it was necessary to try and work on my mentality to be able to persevere through.”

From the circle, Ford relies heavily on her breaking pitches. It’s her bread and butter.

“I work a lot on those and I’ve developed a changeup, which has been beneficial this year,” she said.
Ford, who plans to attend NOC-Enid and studying sports medicine following high school and eventually getting to Rogers State, leans on her mom the most for support.

“She is the strongest woman I know. I strive to be like her everyday,” she said. “She has pushed me to become who I am today while giving me no thought that I couldn’t accomplish whatever I put my mind to.”