Julia Savage came to Fairview’s softball team much like a top draft pick would to a struggling franchise: here to turn things around.

The 16-year-old is one of Colorado’s premier softball players, and she’s bringing excitement to an area that has historically struggled to keep or attract top talent in the sport.

Last year with the Knights, she finished her sophomore campaign No. 1 in slugging (1.693) and on-base percentage (.818) among the seven states that play softball in the fall. Her batting average was fourth-best (.755).

“I wish she’d come out for the spring for baseball,” the school’s longtime baseball and first-year softball coach, David Castillo, smiled. Castillo, agreeing to take charge of the softball program after being asked by the team’s players and parents, said he knew star player Savage was good — but he’s still floored. “She’s unbelievable.”

And more and more people are taking notice.

A year following Savage’s preposterous line from the plate — going 37 of 49 with 23 extra-base hits, including nine home runs — teams are becoming wary of pitching to her.

With four home runs in her first four games of 2024, she clobbered two at the Fairview-hosted Dina Brown Tournament final against Green Mountain on Saturday. At the team’s following practice, Castillo pointed a good 50 feet behind the outfield fence, to a small gathering of trees on the left, and to a white truck straightaway. That’s about where they landed.

The visiting Rams decided to intentionally walk Savage with the bases loaded after that.

“I’ve always loved softball, and I’m so passionate about it,” Savage said Monday.

It’s been growing since she was a small child, where even then Savage was heralded a star on the diamond.

She played tee-ball, then baseball with the boys. “I was the kid that the coach told to play catcher because I could throw it to the base. And I also was a pretty good hitter,” she said. Softball came later.

Savage currently plays on one of the most-recognized club softball programs in the nation, Triple Crown.

“I play with excruciatingly high-level players who are going to the No. 1 schools in the nation,” she said. “So, I am humbled by that, and I come into high school just ready to have fun. I try not to be as stressed with it.”

When interviewed, Savage smiles, laughs a lot — and the teammates around her follow suit.

“Savage is always really fun and is always in good spirits,” senior outfielder Cassidy Williams said. “She obviously contributes to our scores” — Williams then pauses, letting out a chuckle as if to say, ‘well, obviously.’

“But she’s just really kind and she always makes everyone on the team happier. If you see her strike out, she comes to dugout laughing like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe I missed that.’”

While posting some of the nation’s best numbers last fall, Savage said she didn’t understand the significance of what she was doing until after the season was over. “I did not expect that,” she said of her top batting ranks. “It was honestly one of the coolest things.”

Her aim then as well as now, however, is having fun with the Knights, who are looking for their first winning season in more than 15 years. Last year, Savage led Fairview to its most wins since 2014, finishing 9-14. This year, though, players aren’t so much worried about a win total as they are at painting the program in a different light.

“It’s more about getting a community around softball,” said junior Kate McCall, who is able to play anywhere on the field, including at pitcher, where she throws left-handed. “Especially for club players, it’s super hard to find a team in Boulder. No one really plays softball in Boulder. So, I think expanding the program and having more people come and try out is the biggest thing I want to see.”

Just ahead for the Knights, they’ll begin play in the newly formed Granite Peaks League on Aug. 27 at Longmont. One of the best leagues in the state, at least on paper, includes Holy Family (which was briefly ranked No. 1 among the fall softball teams by MaxPreps in 2023), 2023 Class 5A runner-up Erie, back-to-back 4A semifinalist Frederick and up-and-coming 5A power Broomfield.

As for Fairview’s modest, hard-hitting slugger who also touts a brainy 4.4 GPA: she should have her pickings of Division-I offers when her recruiting officially opens Sept. 1.