2011: Posted one of the most impressive pitching seasons in the history of Missouri softball, as Thomas was one of three finalists for USA Softball's National Player of the Year Award, a First Team All-American and a six-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honoree. She led the entire country with a 0.95 earned run average, and finished in the top-10 in hits allowed per seven innings (7th, 3.77), shutouts (T-8th, 13), strikeouts (fourth, 397), strikeouts per seven innings (9th, 10.4) and wins (T-6th, 32). Along with ERA, Thomas led the Big 12 Conference in wins, opponent batting average (.155) and saves (3), while finishing second in the league in strikeouts, shutouts (13) and starts (40). Her 31 complete games were fourth-best in the conference. She tied the school record for wins in a season, and shattered the previous record for strikeouts in a year by more than 100. She posted top-10 single-season records in appearances (T-7th, 44), complete games (T-6th, 31) and solo shutouts (T-6th, 13). Over the course of the season, Thomas posted 18 double-digit strikeout performances. On March 2, she recorded Missouri's first seven inning perfect game since 2002, shutting down Drake with an 11 strikeout performance. After tossing a complete game, three-hitter against SEMO two days later, Thomas threw her second perfect game of the week, this one against Missouri State. In the six inning victory, Thomas struck out 15 of Missouri State's 18 batters. The two perfect games helped Thomas earn both USA Softball National Player of the Week and NFCA National Player of the Week recognition. After tossing a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts over Minnesota, Thomas opened Big 12 play with a win over Kansas, striking out 11 while allowing just two unearned runs in seven innings of work. She shut down Texas Tech twice in Lubbock, throwing 12.1 innings over two days with 17 strikeouts, no walks and just two earned runs while scattering four hits. In mid-April, Thomas put herself on the map nationally with two dominant performances on television against ranked conference rival Oklahoma. In game one, Thomas threw all nine innings, allowing two runs - one earned, and striking out 17 in the win. The following day, the two teams battled into extras again, with Missouri coming out ahead once again, this time in 11 frames. Thomas went the distance again, didn't allow a run, walked just one batter and struck out 17 batters for the second consecutive day. A week and a half later, Thomas combined with Kristin Nottelmann for her third perfect game of the year, throwing four of the five innings against SIU-Edwardsville with 10 strikeouts, the third time this season that Thomas had recorded double-digit strikeouts in just four innings of work. Against Oklahoma State, Thomas flirted with another perfect game but gave up one lone hit to the Cowgirls, their only base runner on the day, while striking out 13. Despite falling to DePaul in game two of the NCAA Regionals, Thomas was brilliant again, allowing just two runs on five hits in 10.2 innings pitched while striking out 11 and issuing zero walks. In game six of the regionals, Thomas helped the Tigers force a decisive final game, as she gave up just one run in seven innings of work against the Blue Demons in Mizzou's 7-3 win. She followed that up with a no-hitter in the Regional Championship game, striking out four DePaul batters in Missouri's 8-0 six inning victory. To open the Super Regional round, Thomas dominated the Washington Huskies, giving up two hits while striking out 13 to put the Tigers one game away from returning to the Women's College World Series. In game two, Thomas worked around 10 hits by the Huskies and gave up only three runs - two earned - while striking out nine to help send Mizzou back to the WCWS. In the first elimination game, Thomas met up with the Sooners for the third time this season, and helped the Tigers to their first WCWS victory since 1991. Thomas took a shutout into the seventh inning and finished the game with six strikeouts and just one run allowed for her 32nd win of the season. The season ended with Thomas taking a heartbreaking loss to the Baylor Bears, as Mizzou fell 1-0 in 13 innings, but Thomas put on one of the top WCWS performances of all time. In 12.2 innings of work, Thomas worked around eight hits, allowed just one run and struck out 19 batters, the second-most in a single game in the history of the Women's College World Series. She finished the year at 32-8 and now owns four of the top-five single game strikeout performances in Missouri history. Honors: USA Softball National Player of the Year Top Three Finalist, First Team All-American, First Team All-Midwest Region, First Team All-Big 12, First Team Academic All-Big 12, NFCA National Player of the Week (March 8), USA Softball National Player of the Week (March 8), WCWS All-Tournament Team, Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Six-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (March 8, March 29, April 12, April 19, May 3 and May 17)
2010: Went 12-1 on the year for a .923 winning percentage, the highest in a single season at Missouri. Opened the season with a dominating performance against No. 2 Alabama, throwing all seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out 11. Followed that up the next day with a five inning complete game shutout over the Crimson Tide, where she allowed only one walk and struck out 12. Thomas pitched all eight innings against Michigan at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, giving up one run on three hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Threw her first no hitter of the season in a seven inning complete game against SLU, allowing only one base runners while recording nine strikeouts. Struck out 14 Illinois State batters on March 14, a personal best. Second no hitter of the year came at the Demarini Invitational against Eastern Michigan, as she struck out 10 in six innings. Won her 12th game of the year against Northwestern in another complete game effort, scattering four hits and four walks as she allowed only one run and struck out 13. Thomas struck out 123 batters in 77.1 innings, blowing away the number she put up last year. In 2009, Thomas struck out 116 batters in 148.2 innings. Received medical hardship waiver after suffering a stress fracture injury that put her out for the season. Honors: First Team Academic All-Big 12, Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, NFCA Leadoff Classic Most Valuable Pitcher, USA Softball College Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
2009: In her first year with the Missouri softball team, Chelsea Thomas helped the Tigers to their first Women's College World Series appearance in 15 years. Managing a 16-7 record, the Tiger freshman made 27 appearances, 24 starts and threw 148.2 innings, striking out 116 of the batters she faced. Managing 10 solo shutouts on the year, a mark that stood 19th in the nation and ties for 10th best in the Missouri single season record book, Thomas tallied a 1.65 ERA, good enough for third best in the Big 12 Conference, and combined with her teammates for a 10-year squad low 1.47 ERA. Thomas made her first career start in the circle Feb. 14 against Virginia Tech. Missouri's right-handed ace threw a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit in five innings of work. Later in the campaign, Thomas was credited with two no-hitters, the first coming March 7, against SEMO in five innings, the second March 8, against Missouri State in seven innings. Throughout the year, Thomas held her opponents to a .185 batting average, a mark that led the league. Competing in her first Big 12 Conference Tournament, Thomas was credited with two of Missouri's three wins, recorded a combined shutout of Oklahoma State on May 9 and managed a solo shutout of No. 9 Oklahoma, May 10, giving the Tigers their first softball crown since 1997. For her work at the tournament, Thomas was named the Big 12 Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, the first Missouri player since 1997 to earn the annual award. Thomas earned three wins in NCAA postseason play, besting Illinois in the NCAA Regional opener in Columbia, Mo., and holding off DePaul to advance to the NCAA Super Regional series. Taking on No. 1 seeded UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif., Thomas collected Missouri's first win of the tournament throwing a complete game and allowing the Bruins only one earned run. Honors: Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Big 12 Player of the Week.
Pleasantville: A 2008 graduate of Pleasantville High School, Thomas was a three-sport varsity athlete throughout her high school career. As a pitcher for the Trojans, under the direction of her father, Coach Rich Thomas, Thomas was a four-year letterwinner, all-conference and academic all-conference player, and all-state pitcher. She also earned all-district honors her sophomore (2006), junior (2007) and senior (2008) seasons. The Trojans placed sixth in the 2A State Softball Tournament in Thomas' junior season and seventh her senior season. Thomas holds the State Tournament record for strikeouts (35 in 14.2 innings). Playing on the Trojans basketball team, Thomas was a four-time letterwinner, all-conference player, and team Most Valuable Player. She was also a three-year captain, academic all-conference member, Pride of Iowa Conference Champion, and all-district player, and was the first five-on-five girls' basketball player from Pleasantville to be an all-state selection (2007 and 2008). Thomas also earned three varsity letters with the Trojans' track team (2005, 2006, 2007).
Personal: Chelsea Thomas is the daughter of Rich and Dana Thomas and was born Jan. 26, 1990, in Des Moines, Iowa. Thomas' father played football at Central College. The eldest of two children, Thomas has a brother Collin (16) and is majoring in biology, with plans to work as a physical therapist following graduation.
