Fastpitch Outlook | These 3 aces create mounds of trouble

In a sport where pitching rocks, it's no surprise when hitters get blown away by this softball power trio — Felecia Harris of Kentlake, Karli Merlich of Kennedy and Monroe's Jordan Birch.

Hitters, beware.

• Harris: In 169 innings last season, this two-time Class 4A all-state selection struck out 346 batters. Kentlake coach Greg Kaas marvels at her strength. "She's circus-freak strong," he says. "To step in against her as a batter must scare the heck out of most kids."

• Merlich: Two-time Seamount League MVP led Kennedy to the 2007 Class 3A state title by fanning 236 hitters over 140 innings. "She's one of the most competitive athletes I've ever coached," said Kennedy coach Dino Josie.

• Birch: Posted a 0.36 earned-run average last season Monroe while striking out 271 and walking 20 in 173-2/3 innings. Of her three no-hitters, two were perfect games — one with 16 strikeouts. "Her attitude is, 'Give me the ball and I'll get it done,' " said Monroe coach Curt Eskeback. "And she does."

All three seniors will be playing for Division I college programs next season — Harris at Washington, Merlich at Texas Tech and Birch at Illinois State.

Until then, the threesome will add to their formidable career numbers this spring and aim for one last state-tournament appearance. All three have been there at least twice before.

Felecia Harris

A wall display at Kentlake recognizes students who have reached weightlifting milestones. Harris is one of two girls on the board, residing in the lofty 500 Club, with single-rep bests of 210 pounds (squat), 185 (power clean) and 145 (bench).

"Physically, she's the strongest kid I've ever been involved with," said Kaas. "Her weightlifting teacher tells me she's like nothing he's ever seen before."

The 5-foot-8 Harris, who is one quarter Comanche, also puts her strength to work at the plate, batting .487 last season. She's expected to break in at Washington next season primarily at first base.

"People will gather around even if she's just hitting the ball off a tee," Kaas said. "It's like watching Mark McGwire back in the day."

So does she scare Kaas? "On the field she's absolutely focused and intense, so she's pretty intimidating," he said. "Then you meet her off the field and she's one of the nicest, most compassionate kids you'll find."

Harris had arthroscopic surgery in October to repair a torn labrum in her shoulder — injured when diving back into a base during a club game in September. She plans to go easy on pitching until the postseason draws near.

"As long as I'm good for state," she said, "that's the most important."

Karli Merlich

How competitive is the left-handed Merlich?

"She takes it very personally," Josie said. "Everything's a battle."

In her sophomore season, when she yielded no earned runs, Josie remembers leading Hazen 2-0 when a runner got aboard in the top of the seventh via an error. Merlich then gave up a triple.

Her response? "She struck out the next two batters on six pitches," Josie said. "She's very intense and determined. She shows it every day in practice. She makes everyone work as hard as she does and brings teammates up to her level. If I could figure out a way to keep her another year, I would."

Instead, Merlich will head to Texas Tech to play for ex-Washington coach Teresa Wilson, who years ago noticed Merlich in a camp at age 9.

"Coach Wilson taught me almost everything about softball," said Merlich, who said she received about 10 scholarship offers. "When I was 9, I told her she was the only person I'd ever play for. I kept that promise."

Merlich, daughter of former Washington State shortstop Al Merlich, throws five pitches (fastball, rise, drop, screwball and changeup) but leans on her power. She has plenty of skills at the plate, too, hitting .538 last season.

Jordan Birch

"This girl's work ethic is unbelievable," Eskeback said. "She's always working something, trying to seek perfection."

With two perfect games last season, it appears Birch, who throws a lot of heat while mixing in screwballs and a curve, appears to have aced this perfection thing.

"On those days it feels like nothing can go wrong," said Birch, who went 23-2 last year while batting .318. "Everything just clicks. I don't even know what my stats are. I just get in that zone."

Her dad, Mike, introduced her to the game just before seventh grade and has been a coach on her teams ever since.

"Her motto is, 'The only way to fail is to quit,' " he said. "She really lives by that."