Jonathan Alder’s Madyson Watson earns a second chance to play professionally overseas

It’s not every day that a Plain City area native gets the chance to play a professional sport.

However, a former Lady Pioneer is slated to take her talents overseas to compete for a Netherlands-based softball club.
Madyson Watson is a former Lady Pioneer standout who made a name for herself inside the pitching circle.

Following a successful high school career, Waton played softball for Winthrop University, where she raked in more awards.

Winthrop University, located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a Division I NCAA program which competes in the Big South Conference.

After graduating from college, the opportunity to play once again fell in the now 24-year-old’s lap.

According to the Neptunus Baseball and Softball Club in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Watson is slated to provide some “American reinforcement in the throwing circle.”

Around this time last year, Watson was in contact with several teams in Europe, which were looking to add the softball standout to their roster.

Plans to commit fell through when the COVID-19 pandemic complicated things in regards to travel restrictions.

“I stayed in contact with some people who were overseas,” Watson told the Journal-Tribune.

Watson was able to stay in contact with teams in places such as Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

Watson chose to commit to the Netherlands-based team based on the fact it is only a three-month stint rather than a five-month stay abroad.

Watson plans to remain with the team for 73 days.

However, if the Neptunus make it into the championship tournament, she will return to compete for the squad.

She will leave in April and remain in the Netherlands until June.

Watson made a name for herself at Jonathan Alder when she pitched the Lady Pioneers into the state tournament as a sophomore.

 “We were the state runners-up, but it was the first time it ever happened,” she said.

Watson earned All-Ohio accolades during her high school career.

Her collegiate stint also proved to be successful.

As a freshman, she earned three wins in five starts inside the circle.

“I was put in so many tough positions my freshman year it wasn’t even funny,” Watson chuckled. “But I think it is what made me who I am.”

Watson posted a career record of 45-31 with a 3.50 ERA.

She also proved she could swing the bat on the collegiate level.

Watson batted .257 for her career with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs.

In 2019, she earned All-Big South second-team honors after emerging as one of the top pitchers in the conference. She set careers highs in wins (15), strikeouts (119), complete games (10) and ERA (2.82).

Her senior year also was very prosperous as she ranked fourth in the Big South in batters struck out looking, sixth in total strikeouts and seventh in wins, along with walks allowed per game.

Watson is also ranked ninth all time in Winthrop history for fewest runs allowed while posting a career 2.35 walk-to-strikeout ratio her senior year — seventh best in the program’s history.

In her time at Winthrop, Watson was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year representing the Gold and Garnet.

“[Watson] also likes to share her knowledge and skill with others and will be providing pitcher training,” Neptunus posted on its Facebook page. “We are confident that she can take the young and talented pitchers who are walking around the club a step further.”

Watson will join fellow American Libby Sugg, formerly of Brigham Young University,  on the roster.

After deciding to forgo the invitation to play overseas last year due to the public health climate, Watson said she was unsure if she’d ever get the chance to play again.

“When I told the person no… I thought I wouldn’t have a chance like this again,” she said.

This is the first time she will be venturing outside the country as she anxiously waits for her trip to begin. 

“I am nervous about being lost, obviously,” Watson said. “(But) It’s a once in a lifetime experience so I can’t pass it up.”