The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-11 senior right-handed pitcher had led the Lancers to a 17-1 record at the time of her selection, posting a 16-1 mark in the circle with a 0.65 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 108 innings pitched. Nelson, who owned a state-record 1,245 career strikeouts through 18 games, pitched an perfect game on April 24 against Dover-Sherborn High, striking out all 15 batters in a five-inning victory—one of 17 no-hitters, including 10 perfect games, in her prep softball career.
A member of her school’s math, science, history and English honor societies, Nelson has maintained a weighted 4.43 GPA the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to play softball on scholarship at the College of the Holy Cross this fall.
The vice president of her class and a member of the Norton High student council, Nelson has volunteered locally as a math tutor and as a mentor to elementary-school students through her school’s PALS program.