photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Julia Norris throws in a 7-1 loss to Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Olathe.

There are few positions in sports as high-stress as pitching. It all starts in the circle, and a game can flip with one pitch.

The good thing for Lawrence pitcher and outfielder Julia Norris is that she’s confident — she doesn’t let the pressure get to her. And now, as she enters her senior year at Lawrence, that confidence will be key as she becomes Lawrence softball’s ace.

“In taking some break (after club season), I’ve had time to think about how the season is going to go,” Norris said. “I just know that I need to practice hard and work on my skills to try to be the best for this season.”

Norris has had her fair share of ups and downs with the teams she’s been a part of. Through her first two years at Lawrence, the Lions improved on the field and in the win column. But after a down year in 2026, the program is young and learning to win again.

The last few years, Norris’ older sister, Keira, has been the Lions’ ace in the circle. But with her graduation, the younger Norris will be tasked with pitching more. Lawrence coach Michael Byrn has the confidence in her, as does the rising senior in herself.

Over the last two years, Norris has thrown the second-most innings on the team, and she’s been able to pitch her team into wins. But it’s a different pressure to be the team’s go-to pitcher and throw almost every game. Norris knows she can handle the pressure, but there’s still a few things she’s working on getting better at before the season.

“I want to work on my speed and being able to make my pitches work when I need them to,” Norris said. “I’m going to have to work hard on my pitching so that I can be the best for my team, especially since we’re losing a really good arm.”

Norris grew up with softball, so she’s seen a lot. She’s been in a lot of different situations and has had to pitch or hit her way out of a pickle. That experience pays off when she’s in the circle.

“I feel that definitely in the moments when the pressure has been built, and there are people on base, I can focus on what I’m pitching and my accuracy,” Norris said. “It’s a lot easier now since I’ve been pitching for a long time and have the mentality to be able to handle that.”

It translates through the rest of her life as well. Building her confidence as a pitcher and competing in intense situations has helped her anytime she’s felt pressure in school and other areas.

Lawrence had a young roster in 2026, and the Lions will be on the younger side again next softball season. Norris will be a leader for the Lions both on and off the field, and bringing up the next generation of Lions is an important part of the job next year.

“I want to be their mentor and help them with everything that they’re going to go through in this high school experience,” Norris said.

It’s confidence that plays the biggest role in preparing the next group of Lawrence softball leaders when Norris graduates. By having in them and helping their confidence by helping them in everything with high school, Norris can help the Lions feel ready when they step on the field.

It already started last year as the Lions improved as the season went on, especially some of the Lions that started the year on junior varsity and finished on varsity. For Norris to continue to help those players develop and see them gain that confidence is as important as winning games.

“(It’s important) to be able to have a great season with my teammates, no matter if we win a bunch of games or lose,” Norris said. “Just having great relationships with people on my team and in school.”