Lowry High School senior Savannah Stoker broke the all-time home run record last week in Reno against McQueen. Stoker sits at 49 home runs, breaking the previous record of 46, which stood since 2010. For full story see Page 14.
How does a young lady in Winnemucca, one up herself without much fanfare.
At the end of February, Lowry High School senior Savannah Stoker finished her career basketball career with 2,000 points, three consecutive state titles, two straight Nevada Player of the Year awards and is a three-time Northern 3A Player of the Year.
She is only the ninth Nevada girls basketball player to score 2,000 or more points.
Stoker, who excels in basketball and is an all-state volleyball player as well, completed her chase of becoming the all-time homerun leader in Nevada softball.
Lowry High School senior Savannah Stoker broke the all-time home run record last week in Reno against McQueen. Stoker sits at 49 home runs, breaking the previous record of 46.
“I don’t know if there are any words to describe her,” said first-year head coach Megan Maga. “Perfect? I feel a lot of people are smart, whether in the classroom or the athletic field or court. Some people are just blessed to be kind and she is an anomaly. She is all three of them. You would never know about her reaction that she broke the record.”
Stoker set the single-season home run record in 2023 when hit 21 bombs to surpass the mark set by Reed’s Michelle Palaroan, who hit 20 in 1991.
Earlier this season the senior surpassed former Buckaroo Sydney Connors for the school and 3A record with 44.
Stoker tied the all-time record of 46 on Tuesday, April 2, on a 3-run shot off of Spanish Springs’ Hannah Fitzpatrick.
Stoker crushed her seventh homer of the season and 47th of her career Wednesday, April 3, at McQueen High to set the Nevada career record for home runs with 47. The homer came off of the Lancers;’ Violet Moyao.
In a second game on April 3, against Bishop Manogue, she hit No. 48. This past Saturday, she hit No. 49 at North Valleys.
“I feel amazing, it is a great accomplishment,” Stoker said. “There has been a ton of great athletes and I am proud and honored to be mentioned with those players that have done what they did. I just try to go out everyday and help my team.”
There was no celebration, as Stoker teammates greeted her at home plate, lightly tapped on her helmet and the team went back to the dugout.
“I am just glad the chase is over,” Stoker said. “The pressure is off and now I can relax and have some fun and see where I can take the record. I broke out a big smile rounding the bases when I broke the record. I like to celebrate afterwards with my family, teammates and friends after the game. It’s all business on the field and we got a job to do.”
The previous record for career homers was held by Laughlin’s Brittany Chase, who hit 46 from 2007-10. Laughlin is a member of the 1A. Chase also had 20 homers in 2010.
Stoker had 14 homers as a sophomore in 2022 and five as a freshman in 2021, which was a truncated season due to the pandemic.
The large-class record for homers is held by Spanish Springs Amanda Collier, who hit 40 from 2005-08.
“She just has it and comes just naturally,” Maga said. “The fun thing about records are meant to be broken. This one, I don’t know if anyone is going to get close. She still has a half season to go.”
Lowry advanced the 2023 3A state title game in Mesquite, before falling to North Valleys, which won the school’s first state title in any sport.
As a junior, Stoker hit .483 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and 57 runs scored while slugging 1.141 and posting a 1.695 OPS.
So far this season, Stoker is hitting .492 with eight home runs, six triples and four doubles to go with 30 hits, 33 RBI and 32 runs scored.
With Stoker so close to the record entering the season, Maga noted much of the pressure on her to break the record was from everyone else and not the senior.
“She comes in with the intention of I am not going to break records,” added the coach. “She comes in and says, I am going to get base hits, hit line drives and help my team out. The girl pitched her butt off last week and as a coach I love that.”
Nevada Softball Career Home Runs
48 – Savannah Stoker, Lowry (2021-24)
46 – Brittany Chase, Laughlin (2007-10)
43 – Sydney Connors, Lowry (2016-19)
40 – Amanda Collier, Spanish Springs (2005-08)
40 – Josey White, Lake Mead (2015-18)
39 – Heather Bowen, Centennial (2011-14)
39 – Hailey Merlino, Bishop Manogue (2016-19)
38 – Lydia Bergman, Churchill County (2021-23)