4/15/12  Adam Bleday's 23 strikeouts on Friday was impressive, but not nearly a national record.  Bleday also struck out the final nine Youngsville batters in the game to help secure the 2-0 Titusville win in extra innings.  Once again, not even close to being a national record.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) record book, Bleday's 23 strikeouts in an extra inning game doesn't even get him into the all time top 10 list.  In fact, with today's pitching rules it would be nearly impossible for any pitcher to crack the top ten. 

Number 10 on the current list is Joe Koperski from Wayland, MI who struck out 32 batters from Vermontville-Maple Valley, MI on May 12, 1969. With today's NFHS rules, pitchers are limited to a maximum of 10 innings in one day.  To reach the 32 strikeout total that Koperski had, today's high school pitcher would have to strikeout every batter he faces, plus a couple who reach base on a passed ball or wild pitch.

Joe Labek of Norridge Ridgewood, IL is the national record holder for strikeouts in an extra inning game with a whopping total of 40.  Labek compiled his total over two dates, 5/18/2004 and 5/25/2004.  The game went 24 innings and was called due to darkness then resumed at a later date.

So what about Bleday's nine consecutive strikeouts to finish the game. The NFHS only lists the top 3 performances of all time, but nine in a row doesn't compare.  The national record holder is Jim Peterson from Sonora, CA who struck out 22 in a row in a 1973 game.

Which brings us to what might be the most remarkable strikeout total of those kept by the NFHS.  From 1970 to 1973, eventual 1st round draft pick of the Texas Rangers, David Clyde, struck out an astonishing 842 batters.  Major League pitchers are considered to have had a stellar season on the mound when they total 200 strikeouts or more in a 162 game season.  Amazingly Clyde compiled an average of 210.5 strikeouts a year in his high school career when his team played less than 50 games a season.

                                             

            Adam Bleday                                                                           David Clyde