Some players require a little extra evidence or debate in order to convince a panel of voters that they are award-worthy.

While an exceptional student and teammate as well, a line of remarkable statistics couldn’t have provided a much stronger platform for Farmington Hills Mercy senior pitcher Kaitlyn Pallozzi, who was announced on Wednesday as a 2025 Michigan Miss Softball Award winner.

“This is an amazing award and something I’ve been trying for my entire four years,” said Pallozzi, currently competing in the Triple Crown Nationals in St. Louis. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates throughout those years and it’s been amazing. It’s a great award to receive and I’m very honored.”

The final numbers for Pallozzi on the bump from this spring couldn’t have been much better. In 152 innings pitched, she went 23-1 and sported a microscopic 0.18 ERA (four earned runs), only allowing three extra-base hits. She struck out 363 batters compared to just 30 walks for a 12.1 K/BB ratio.

At the plate, she hit .442, second-best on the team, with four home runs and 21 RBIs.

“She’s a stud, and we’ve leaned on her,” Marlins head coach Corey Burras said. “She’s worked tremendously hard for four years. She’s always made it a priority in her training and her life, and she balanced the athletic success with the academic rigors of Mercy. And she lived up to (both). I’m just very honored and proud to be associated with her getting this award.”

Burras reeled off some of her otherworldly career stats: 524 IP with a 80-5 record, a 0.45 ERA, 1,262 strikeouts, and a .069 batting average against.

“Our schedule this year was down a little bit, struggling with people wanting to play us,” Burras said, “but if you look at last year’s schedule, we played against the best talent in the state. We didn’t win state championships obviously, but absent of putting it all together (in the playoffs), she was just a stud. To have her going to such a program like Alabama, a school with tremendous coaches, her hard work and commitment paid off.”

Both Burras and Pallozzi herself offered perspective on how the Marlins’ ace developed in her final year or so of prep softball.

“I think I’ve really grown as a teammate,” Pallozzi said. “Playing mercy softball all four years and being able to lead this team, we grew really close, especially the senior class this year. Being able to grow as a teammate and leader on the field has changed how I view softball.”

Burras noted specifically her desire to compete and increased poise. “She just hates to lose, but Kaitlyn doesn’t pout when she takes an L or perform her best,” he said. “Her maturity and competitiveness really got her through and propelled her to being a high-level athlete. You’re not always going to have your stuff, but (she would) learn from it and move on. And in the offseason, she just worked. She’s been gifted with athleticism, and tremendous parents. They’re supportive in the things she needed to do (but) they didn’t push her to practice … She’s a daughter you’d be so proud of. She’s a tremendous person and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

This marks the third time a Marlin has captured Miss Softball honors after a pair of back-to-back awards a decade ago. Alex Sobczak won it in 2015, then Abby Krzywiecki took home the award the following season. Krzywiecki shattered records as a senior at Mercy, breaking MHSAA’s single-season record for home runs with 20 (since surpassed) while driving in 94 RBIs, still fourth-best in state history for a season. Sobczak remains tied eighth all-time for career walks drawn (112) and remains high on the list for both home runs in a season and career as well.

On the legacy she’s leaving, Pallozzi said, “Not many people get to do it. I’m just going out there having fun. It’s a lot more than just the game, and being able to inspire younger girls and everyone else around you is truly an honor.”

Pallozzi admitted she’s both nervous and excited to get suited up for the Crimson Tide, and knows she has more to prove.

“You can always grow, get better, and there’s always someone on your back,” Pallozzi said. “Going into college, you have to work hard and put your best foot forward, because there’s gonna be someone behind you at all times.”