Dowagiac junior Taylor Hulett has been dominating hitters for the 18-6 Chieftain softball team.

She is 14-4 on the year with an ERA of 1.621. Hulett has 135 strikeouts in 90.2 innings of work.

Hulett has already thrown three no-hitters for Dowagiac this season and as the Chieftains begin preparing for the postseason, she will be counted on to do even more.

Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke had been alternating Hulett and fellow junior Megan Soderbloom much of the month of April, but of late, Hulett has been getting most of the work while Soderbloom is the Chieftains’ catcher.

Behnke said he has noticed Hulett has been getting ahead of hitters earlier.

“Taylor is attacking the strike zone early this year and getting ahead of hitters and then she has become great at hitting her sports to get batters to chase out of the strike zone,” he said. “I have had more than one umpire tell me she is just barely missing the plate, which she should be when she is ahead in the count. Her change up is much better this year as well.”

Hulett said she has put a lot of work into her pitching in the offseason. She also said that she does not feel anything different when she throws a no-hitter.

“You strive to be your best every game and hope your team backs you up,” Hulett said. “Which my team always does. It is a good feeling.”

Hulett said her drop curve has become her best pitch.

“I pitch at least four hours not counting games,” she said about the hours she practices pitching. “And then on the weekends  with my pitching coach (Rick Plangger).”