Cooper City’s Hustey, Caravaca are Broward Softball 7A-6A Pitcher and Player of the Year
They formed the battery for one of Broward County’s top softball teams this season.
And even though their season ended in the Class 6A regional finals, three wins away from that elusive state title, Jordyn Hustey and Kirsten Caravaca capped their high school careers with prolific individual years while leading Cooper City to one of its most accomplished seasons in school history.
It’s why the teammates are the Miami Herald’s Broward Softball Big School Pitcher and Player of the Year.
The respect between the two is mutually felt.
“You need someone like [Caravaca] behind the plate,” Hustey said, “because she just frames the ball so good. And without a good catcher, you can’t be a good pitcher. She just helps with everything — framing, blocking, throwing people out if they get on. She’s amazing.”
Caravaca’s point of view of pitcher-catcher relationship: “Jordyn, she carries us a lot. She’s one of the best pitchers I’ve caught around in this area. She just throws pitches that once you give her the right motivation, she’s just on fire and she’s lights out. With her on top of her game, we’re unbeatable.”
DOMINANT STUFF
Hustey, who will play collegiately at the University of Tennessee-Martin, was dominant in the circle this season. The senior righty finished the season with a 0.97 ERA with 135 strikeouts over 115 1/3 innings. She threw 11 complete games, including three shutouts and one perfect game.
Her go-to pitches were her curveball and screwball.
“In 10th grade, the curveball was my best pitch,” Hustey said, “but then [the COVID-19 pandemic] happened and we didn’t get to play our season anymore. It just stuck with me all along, but I’ve been recently like working on my screwball and it’s really good.”
SERIOUS POWER
In addition to her work behind the plate working with Hustey, Caravaca did serious damage at the plate. She had a .512 batting average with 14 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 37 RBI and 14 runs scored this season while batting third in the lineup.
While she has caught for travel ball, this was her first year catching for Cooper City. Caravaca previously played the infield during the high school season.
Her biggest area of improvement this season?
“My discipline, being more of a leader for my team and honestly being less selfish and more of a team player,” said Caravaca, who will play collegiately at the University of North Florida. “Just helping us win as much as we can.”
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