Johnson Phenom

The setting was the same. The result was the same. The difference? This was the big time.

Two months ago here, Trinity Johnson was a South Carolina senior whipping through batters on the way to being named Most Valuable Player of the inaugural Southeastern Conference softball tournament as the Gamecocks cruised to the title.

Friday, Johnson returned to the South Commons softball stadium as a Team USA member.

After dominating college hitters, Johnson has so far been equally unrelenting against international competition. Some might say shutting out Puerto Rico 6-0 on a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, as she did Friday, is not a big deal since Puerto Rico has yet to score in four Superball ‘97 games. But she also blanked China, considered No. 2 in the world, twice and earned a save during the American Challenge Series.

She is expected to be an integral part of Team USA’s pitching future.

“It takes a little time to get acclimated and get into the swing of it, but she’s young and has a long career ahead of her,” said USA head coach Ralph Raymond, noting the distance between the mound and home plate is 43 feet in college and 40 feet on the elite level.

“It felt a lot different,” said Johnson, 21, from Memphis, Tenn. “It’s totally two different atmospheres. You’re representing your country, not your school anymore, so it’s nice to come out here with a lot of support behind me and our team. It was nice to be back.”

Johnson was the SEC Female Athlete of the Year as she led the nation in ERA (0.38) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.5) while going 34-4. Fellow phenom Krista Williams, who will be a sophomore at UCLA after pitching here last year in the Olympics, didn’t make this Superball team as she’s recovering from a pulled tendon in her hand.

USA third baseman/pitcher Lisa Fernandez has been most impressed with Johnson’s composure despite her youth and international inexperience.