JERSEY SHORE — Did you really expect Brooke Koch to complain?
The Jersey Shore senior had just thrown a 13-inning no-hitter with 27 strikeouts the night before, and Wednesday, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves in, yet again, extra frames. She didn't utter a word.
This is her senior season, and there's no way she's going to leave the circle because of a little soreness.
Brooke Koch.
Photo by Nate Wilson/The Lock Haven Express
"I can't lie and say that I wasn't tired or my arm isn't sore. But you have to push through it," Koch smiled after her Lady Bulldogs pulled out a 4-3 victory over State College yesterday. "I knew that I would be fine, but this is my senior year."
What Koch is doing up in Lycoming County is pretty remarkable.
"It's been amazing," the senior pitcher said. "I couldn't ask for a better season in my senior year. We have a great group of girls, and we are a good team. We are having fun."
She's only allowed 23 hits in 11 games, and carries a 10-1 record. In a total of 83 innings twirled, she's punched out 170 batters. After breaking out the calculator, it comes out to more than two per inning.
Koch tossed an 11-strikeout perfect game on April 8 against Shikellamy. She no-hit rival Mifflinburg in front of the home crowd, one of three no-hitters on the season, not counting the perfect game.
There was a streak where she tossed the perfect game, two no-hitters, a one-hitter and two-hitter in five contests.
"I think that every pitcher wants to have that no-hitter all the time," she said. "But I know that I can always count on my defense because they are tough behind me. They also deserve credit for making the tough plays."
Yet, those who know Koch closely admit she's more than just a pitcher that continues to mow down batter after batter. She's a "leader by example," Shore manager Jeremy Lazorka said. One play Wednesday showed it. Koch and first baseman Hannah Yost both charged a pop-fly near the white line. The two hit together, and the yellow sphere dropped to the dirt for an error. Quickly, the infield gathered around the rubber, and Koch patted Yost on the back.
"That's the type of person Brooke is," Lazorka said. "You could tell that her arm was bothering her, but she's a true leader. She never said a word about it. I don't like to give one person all of the credit because we are a team. But it says something when you throw 11 games and have four no-hitters and one of those is 13 innings. She's a pleasure to coach.
"She always leads by example. Sometimes, that gets through to people more. Everyone is different. We're all wired together different. Brooke leads by example. I've always been more of a vocal leader. We have a great balance, and everyone respects each other."
At the plate, Koch is hitting at a .457 clip with 16 hits. She's the one that started the one-out, game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth yesterday and scored along with teammate Yost on Holly Peacock's double to deep center. In her 13-inning no-hitter, she also had three hits.
"I was frustrated at the beginning of the season because I wasn't hitting so well. It's nice that I am able to hit and help the team out there, too," she said.
She also got the collegiate decision out of the way early, choosing to attend Division I St. Francis University next year.
"I told my parents that I was so happy that I made that decision early and before the season started," Koch said. "I know where I am going, and it's a great school. Now, I can just focus on my season and I don't have to worry about where I am going afterwards."
Each time she jogs to the circle, emotion fills inside her body. She knows it's the last time she'll face a certain team. Maybe it's the last go-around in the Heartland Conference regular season. One goal exists. It should come as no surprise that it's team-oriented. That's the way Koch is.
"Since my freshman year, it's always been about capturing a state title. We always strive to reach that level," she said. "I know we have a team that can do it. We want it really bad. But it's been a special year.
"It's just crazy to think about it because it has gone so fast. I couldn't ask for a better season or a better team to end my high school career."
Tom Fox is sports editor at The Lock Haven (Pa.) Express. He can be reached at
tfox@lockhaven.com
.
