Hock pitches, hits Preble to victory over Ashwaubenon

By Rich Palzewic

Sports Editor

ASHWAUBENON – Green Bay Preble softball pitcher Brooke Hock did a little bit of everything April 26 against Ashwaubenon.

The senior righty pitched five innings of one-hit ball, struck out six, stole a base and collected two hits and a walk at the plate in the Hornets’ 8-1 Fox River Classic Conference game at Pioneer Park.

Hock was perfect through 3 1/3 innings before issuing a walk to Elle Justman in the fourth.

The only hit against her came in the fifth inning when Liz Cleveland hammered the first pitch she saw to right field to break up the no-hitter.

“Good pitching helps win games, but good defense helps more,” Hock said. “It’s nice to have a defense like we do – I’m proud of the team.”

Playing in 30-degree windchill, Hock said the spring conditions have been tough.

“It’s hard to pitch and hit the ball,” she said. “The spin on my pitches doesn’t work right. We power through it and play well either way.”

Preble scored single runs in each of the first three innings against Ashwaubenon starting pitcher Berritt Herr before busting things open in the fourth.

The Hornets sent nine batters to the plate in the marathon inning, stringing together three hits in scoring five runs.

Preble was also aided by an Ashwaubenon error in the inning.

Preble shortstop Ashley Wolfe, a Division I verbal commit to Oregon State University, collected a hit, was walked twice, knocked in a run and stole two bases.

Catcher Madi Whitney was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases, while Katie Geydoshek had a two-RBI double.

Sam Foytik also collected a pair of hits for the Hornets.

Brynn Bauer and Morgan Jarvi collected the other two hits for the Jaguars, while Jarvi knocked in the only run of the game for her team with an RBI single in the sixth inning.

“We give lots of credit to the pitchers and catchers in this weather, but everyone is struggling with the cold and wind,” Preble Head Coach Ron Metzler said. “We have a tough team, and it helps.”

Metzler said Hock is a competitor.

“That’s Brooke for you,” he said. “She doesn’t give in to the weather and the good teams. We can’t ask for anything more from her. She has an experienced team behind her.”