Texas “super senior” pitcher Miranda Elish has opted out of the 2021 season.
In a statement released by Texas, Elish said, “After all my years of playing the game I love, this message comes with deep sadness and a very heavy heart. It was a decision that I’ve thought long and hard about, and unfortunately due to situations surrounding me, I feel it is in my best interest to not participate in the 2021 season because of my concerns over COVID-19. Thank you for all the love and support now and in the past, it will be forever remembered. Thank you to all my fans, friends, teammates, coaches, especially Coach White, and most importantly, my family. Your support through all the years has made my softball career so much more special. I wish Longhorns nation nothing but the best. Hook ’em forever!”
Elish has been seen by many to be the face of Texas softball since she transferred in from Oregon ahead of the 2019 season. She is a two-time All-American, including earning third-team honors in 2019, her first year as a Longhorn. During her two seasons in Austin, Elish owns a 29-13 overall record with 322 strikeouts.
A 2018 Top 25 finalist for the National Player of the Year award, Elish has been named to the preseason watchlist for the award in each of the last three seasons. She earned all-conference honors in each of the first three seasons of her career, including the first two years in the PAC-12. All-conference awards weren’t presented for the shortened 2020 season.
Elish was expected to lead a Longhorn pitching staff that was one of the deepest in the nation. The staff now includes former Ole Miss transfer Molly Jacobsen; Shealyn O’Leary; Ariana Adams; and freshmen Courtney Day and Ryleigh White.
