Alina Ferguson recorded her 199th strikeout in the fifth inning of the second game of the Minisink Valley Tournament on April 21.

That’s when Newburgh Free Academy coach Edwin Quezada grabbed a brand-new softball to take the milestone ball out of play as soon as the next strikeout was recorded.

The Middies didn’t give it up, but he was finally able to crack the wrapper on the new ball when Ferguson struck out Ava Boffalo – the first batter in their April 22, 7-5 win over Pine Bush – to record her 200th career strikeout.

“I just wanted it to come naturally,” said Ferguson, a senior pitcher in her fourth season. “I wasn’t trying to strike the girl out, but I just wanted it to come naturally. Usually, when I’m on the mound, I don’t really think about it. I just pitch my game and it goes how it goes.”

She recorded strikeout No. 199 in the fifth inning against Middletown when she caught Alyssa Platero looking. She came close a few times, but the Middies kept putting the ball in play, sending the potential milestone strikeout back to NFA’s North campus.

She came out firing in her home circle on April 22, striking out Boffalo on five pitches. It came naturally, and it was all business.

She called time out, threw the ball in and prepared to face Kayla Gorman.

“I didn’t really want to celebrate on the field and jump up and down or anything,” Ferguson said. “So, I just smiled and gave a thumbs up.”

After all, there was a game to win, which the Goldbacks did on the strength of a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Taryn Judson, and two runs scoring on a Ryan Keller groundout.

Ferguson also drove in a run, helping herself out.

The league win was important for the Goldbacks’ Section 9 Class AAA playoff hopes, but that day was about the strikeout.

“It’s all about her,” Quezada said.

“It’s good, obviously. I really wanted it for her. She’s one of, if not the, leader of this team. She’s been a huge help for me as a first-year coach. To have her accomplish that, I’m super proud of her.”

The Goldbacks saw the Middies again on Friday, a 4-1 loss at Faller Field, ending the Goldbacks’ five-game winning streak.

As of Wednesday, the ball was still in Ferguson’s bag with the rest of her gear. Eventually it will find its way into a more permanent place.

It’s a fitting milestone for a player who always wanted to be a pitcher, despite her smaller stature. She must use her whole body to gain momentum and velocity, and she must do it with accuracy.

“It means a lot just because I am a little bit smaller than all the other pitchers in our class,” Ferguson said.

“So, definitely being able to reach this milestone, I definitely feel blessed and very grateful. I’ve got a great team behind me, too, so I know whatever happens, they’re going to have my back.”