When the season began, Delaney Troxell knew that her goal of 500 career strikeout was well withing her sights.

On April 10 in a 6-1 victory over Executive Education, Troxell reached the 500-career strikeout plateau, and she also eclipsed the 100-career hit mark.

Just over a month later, Troxell reached the next level.

In the team’s 4-0 victory over Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg May 3, Troxell recorded 15 strikeouts in a two-hitter, and reached 600 career strikeouts. It was a milestone that even surprised her.

“It’s crazy that I reached my 600 strikeouts,” gushed Troxell, who will continue her career at Millersville next year. “I was worried at the beginning of the season about getting my 500th strikeout, but getting my 600th is mind blowing.

“I’m extremely grateful for chance (head) coach Paige (Kogelman) has given me to reach this goal. She and the Catasauqua coaching staff put a lot of trust in me while I’m on the mound.”

Troxell credited Sophia Becker, Briana Deschaine, and Rylee Boshell, who all were behind the plate this season. All of them have helped lift her spirits.

“Sophia has caught many of my strikeouts,” noted Troxell. “But for her to catch my 600, it felt like everything came full circle. I feel really confident on the mound, trusting my spins of pitches and allowing them to move on their own.”

Northwestern routed Catty, 15-0, in a three-inning, shortened game Monday that dipped the Roughies record to 9-10. They closed out their season Wednesday against Northern Lehigh.

The Roughies were seeded fourth in the district Class 2A bracket, but they had Minersville and Panther Valley on their heels. However, they have clinched a berth according to reports.

Troxell added, “Our team has come together in the last couple of weeks.”