By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
PULASKI – In gale-force winds and snow flurries, the Green Bay Preble softball team got strong performances from pitcher Brooke Hock and shortstop Ashley Wolfe in defeating Pulaski April 14.
Hock pitched a complete game seven-hitter with nine strikeouts, while Wolfe went 4-for-4 at the plate in helping lead the Hornets to a 10-6 Fox River Classic Conference victory at Betty Van Lannen Field in Pulaski.
Wolfe, a junior verbal commit to Division I Oregon State University, also scored three runs, had two RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
“This was only my second game, so I’m still getting into my groove,” Wolfe said. “We saw (Pulaski pitcher Morgan) Vertz last year, so you take what you remember from that and go with it. She’s improved from last season, so I’m happy to get off to a good start.”
Wolfe said she’s never played in such difficult conditions.
“I’ve never played in the snow and winds this bad – it was tough,” she said.
The Hornets scored two runs in the first, two in the third, one in the fourth, four in the sixth and a one in the seventh to give Hock all the support she needed.
After Pulaski clawed its way back to a 5-3 deficit after four innings, three Preble hits and two Pulaski errors in the sixth busted the game open.
Despite a stiff 25-mph wind blowing out to centerfield, Pulaski’s Cassandra Benberg, who also added a single, hit the only home run of the game – a three-run blast to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the scoring.
“We’ve played in tough conditions, but this is about as tough as it gets,” Preble Head Coach Ron Metzler said. “Every other year you have some bad weather, but this year is really bad. Four years ago, we had two feet of snow in mid-April. Both teams battled hard.”
Metzler said his team’s trip to Florida earlier this month is paying dividends.
“It was a short trip, but it got us ready for the Pulaskis of the world,” he said. “Fortunately, this wasn’t the first time we saw a good team this year.”
Metzler said he was also impressed with Wolfe, his leadoff hitter.
“She had a great day,” he said.
Brynn Egnarski had three hits for the Red Raiders, while Vertz and Nicole Berna each had one.
“I’ve played in tough conditions in college but never like this,” Pulaski Head Coach Billi Vertz said.
The Red Raiders were plagued by numerous errors, which were the difference in the game.
“We have to clean up our defense and grow up quickly,” Vertz said. “We have some young kids in different positions. We are understanding things but not executing. Overall, I was happy with our performance at the plate.”
Hock helped her own cause with a pair of hits, while Ava DeBaker, Sam Foytik and Mel Siudzinski each added one for the Hornets.