Colleen Ryan knows a thing or two about pressure. She knows how to overcome it, too.

The Jordan-Elbridge hurler - who was in her sixth year on the varsity squad - entered the season with a giant weight on her shoulders. That she would break the state strikeout record was all but a certainty. It was just a matter of time.

That time came on May 9.

Facing Marcellus, Ryan delivered a fastball down the pipe on a full count for her sixth strikeout of the game, 167th of the season, and 1,279th of her career, breaking the all-time New York state record. She finished her career with 1,285 strikeouts.

“I wasn't a prodigy or anything,” she said after that game. “I definitely had to work on my pitching just like anybody else. I didn't even think about (the record) this year. I've always tried to take things game by game.”

From game to game, her numbers were monstrous. Aside from her dominance in the pitcher's circle, she was hitting the cover of the ball when she stepped up to the plate. She belted 33 hits for a .516 average, and had nine doubles, two triples and seven round-trippers. With numbers like that, it's no surprise that she got the Barry Bonds treatment and was walked 18 times - including a couple intentional ones.

“She's always been a slugger,” father and coach Joe Ryan said. “I remember watching her play against other kids when she was around 5 years old, and I'd get scared that she might hurt them. Colleen's just loved playing ball.”

Colleen will continue to play ball at the college level, suiting up for Division I SUNY-Stony Brook while she studies in the nursing program.

“Any time any kid gets a full ride to a Division I school it's a great achievement,” he said. “It's great for Colleen, and great for Jordan-Elbridge softball.”