By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – The only thing hotter than the weather May 13 was the Pulaski softball team’s offense.
Fueled by 18 hits and the pitching of Morgan Vertz, the Red Raiders beat De Pere in Fox River Classic Conference action, 7-0.
Pulaski recorded a hit in every inning – including seven in a five-run fourth – and Vertz did the rest.
The sophomore righty struck out nine, allowed only two hits and walked one in her third consecutive game in as many days on the mound.
Pulaski’s Gabrielle DeCleene led the offensive attack with four hits, while Olivia Kubiak and Grace Spindler each collected three.
Cassandra Benberg, Vertz and Meghan Molthen each added a pair of hits.
“Morgan was getting a bit tired late in the game,” Pulaski Head Coach Billi Vertz said. “(Softball) pitching is a natural underhand motion, so it wasn’t her arm that was getting tired – it was her legs. She took a deep breath (on the mound visit) and got the job done. As long as you’re not throwing too many rise balls or curveballs, your arm should be fine.”
Morgan Vertz said she wasn’t about to come out of the game.
“No way,” she laughed. “I wasn’t coming out. That’s what I do – pitch. I do lots of work in the weight room during the offseason doing squats, lunges and other exercises to keep my legs strong. That’s where you get your power in pitching. When it comes to an actual game on the mound, though, it’s a whole different strength that you need – it’s mind over matter.”
Vertz said one time during her eighth-grade year, she pitched 34 1/2 innings in two days, so she’s used to a heavy workload.
She said she also planned to pitch both games of a doubleheader Saturday, May 14, against Oshkosh West.
After getting a single run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single from Spindler, the Red Raiders blew open a close game in the fourth.
They sent 10 batters to the plate in the marathon inning.
DeCleene, Vertz, Molthen (two) and Madeline Christenson (sacrifice fly) all had RBI in the inning off De Pere pitcher Reese Falish.
Pulaski added another run in the seventh inning on an RBI single from DeCleene.
“We’re a good-hitting team and spend lots of time working on it,” Coach Vertz said. “We recently lost close games to Ashwaubenon and Bay Port, though.”
Vertz hadn’t allowed a hit until the fourth inning when De Pere’s Julianne Bradford ripped a clean single to the outfield.
Rachel Kubick had the only other hit for the Redbirds – a double in the seventh inning.
De Pere had two on with two out in the fourth inning, but Vertz struck out Grace Baugnet looking to end the threat.