ST. GEORGE — We’re back to highlighting exceptional student-athletes throughout Southern Utah with all new episodes of “Performance Player of the Month,” brought to you by Ken Garff St. George Ford.
This month’s episode features Desert Hills High School softball pitcher Lulu West. Devin Dixon with The Fan Sports Network and St. George News Sports joined her on home field to catch up.
Learn more about “Performance Player of the Month” Lulu West in the media player at the top of this report.
At age 14, West is only a freshman, but she’s already making a name for herself on the field. Earlier this season, she pitched a no-hitter and scored the walk-off home run.
“I definitely give all the credit for that one to my teammates,” she said. “I mean, they just backed me up the whole time and our catcher, Payton Benson, is just absolutely incredible behind the plate.”
Her biggest inspiration is her father, who was an accomplished baseball player in high school. She said Kyle West is the definition of a “bucket dad,” always willing to put in the time to help her practice.
Currently, her top fastball speed is 59 miles per hour. Her goal is to add a few miles per hour every year of her career with the Thunder. After high school, she hopes to become a dentist and plans to major in dental science in college.
West prepares for games by learning about the batters she’ll face and using that knowledge to her advantage when she gets on the mound. She also watches college softball online, which she said helps her focus on the game plan and get into a competitive mindset. She believes her greatest strength on the field is her mental toughness.
“I don’t let little things fluster me, and I’ve worked hard at taking the game just one pitch at a time,” she said.
Performance Player of the Month: Lulu West | Sponsored by Ken Garff St. George Ford.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.