MONROE - Three years ago, Olivia Bobak played on a Monroe traveling softball team that was in need of a pitcher. Bobak, now a Monroe High School sophomore, jumped at the opportunity.
"I definitely wanted to help out and be a consistent pitcher for my team," Bobak said.
Bobak wasn't a natural at first. She recalls her troubles early on with the windup.
"I taught myself how to pitch," she said. "When I got a pitching coach, I had to get rid of all my bad habits. My windup was off and illegal. No one had ever told me my windup was illegal. I locked my knees after I pitched and that can lead to injuries."
It's been smooth sailing since seventh grade. Bobak is now the ace pitcher for the Cheesemakers. She has posted a 6-1 record with a 1.27 ERA. Bobak has struck out 60 in 44 innings, tossed two shutouts and one no-hitter.
Monroe junior catcher Meredith Hose has served as Bobak's catcher for two years. They were battery mates on the junior varsity team last year and have made a seamless transition to the varsity. As a first-year varsity pitcher, Bobak is getting rave reviews from her coach Joe O'Leksy and her teammates.
"She has really improved the accuracy of her pitches," Hose said of Bobak. "She used to throw a lot of wild pitches. It's fun to see her improve."
For O'Leksy, the speed of Bobak's pitches are not as important as the location and command.
"She has been really good hitting her spots and throwing her curveball," he said. "She's a really good pitcher right now. She will be even better down the road. If she wants to be an elite pitcher she has a long ways to go with hitting her spots."
Bobak features a four-pitch repertoire that includes a fastball at 60 miles per hour, a changeup, curveball and rise ball.
"I think my rise ball and curveball have gotten better," Bobak said. "I have learned to throw my changeup slower so it's easier to trick and fool hitters."
When Oregon rallied to beat Monroe 5-2 last week, Bobak walked two and hit a batter in one inning.
"Some days the pressure kind of gets to me," Bobak said.
O'Leksy has no questions about Bobak's willingness to compete on the mound. He can envision her getting even sharper in setting up hitters.
"Sometimes when you want to do so well you do too much," O'Leksy said. "That is part of her getting experience as a sophomore."
Bobak hasn't been in many tight jams this year, but when she is, Hose can be a soothing influence by walking out to the mound to talk with her.
"I just say you can't get in your head," Hose said.
Hose is third on the team in batting average (.444), second in hits (12), second in runs scored (seven) and second in RBI (eight).
O'Leksy said Hose is one of the top catchers in the area. He relies on her for her defense. He commends her for being a student of the game.
"Meredith is a good receiver and is really good at framing pitches," O'Leksy said. "She's kind of a calming force for her."
O'Leksy calls Hose the toughest player on the team.
"She's very athletic," he said. "Any missed pitches she gets most of the time."
When it's a tough situation or full count, Hose may have an idea of what pitch she would call to have Bobak throw to get a hitter out.
"Usually, Joe (O'Leksy) reads my mind," Hose said about what pitch to call. "I'm always thinking of a pitch and then he calls it."
"I definitely wanted to help out and be a consistent pitcher for my team," Bobak said.
Bobak wasn't a natural at first. She recalls her troubles early on with the windup.
"I taught myself how to pitch," she said. "When I got a pitching coach, I had to get rid of all my bad habits. My windup was off and illegal. No one had ever told me my windup was illegal. I locked my knees after I pitched and that can lead to injuries."
It's been smooth sailing since seventh grade. Bobak is now the ace pitcher for the Cheesemakers. She has posted a 6-1 record with a 1.27 ERA. Bobak has struck out 60 in 44 innings, tossed two shutouts and one no-hitter.
Monroe junior catcher Meredith Hose has served as Bobak's catcher for two years. They were battery mates on the junior varsity team last year and have made a seamless transition to the varsity. As a first-year varsity pitcher, Bobak is getting rave reviews from her coach Joe O'Leksy and her teammates.
"She has really improved the accuracy of her pitches," Hose said of Bobak. "She used to throw a lot of wild pitches. It's fun to see her improve."
For O'Leksy, the speed of Bobak's pitches are not as important as the location and command.
"She has been really good hitting her spots and throwing her curveball," he said. "She's a really good pitcher right now. She will be even better down the road. If she wants to be an elite pitcher she has a long ways to go with hitting her spots."
Bobak features a four-pitch repertoire that includes a fastball at 60 miles per hour, a changeup, curveball and rise ball.
"I think my rise ball and curveball have gotten better," Bobak said. "I have learned to throw my changeup slower so it's easier to trick and fool hitters."
When Oregon rallied to beat Monroe 5-2 last week, Bobak walked two and hit a batter in one inning.
"Some days the pressure kind of gets to me," Bobak said.
O'Leksy has no questions about Bobak's willingness to compete on the mound. He can envision her getting even sharper in setting up hitters.
"Sometimes when you want to do so well you do too much," O'Leksy said. "That is part of her getting experience as a sophomore."
Bobak hasn't been in many tight jams this year, but when she is, Hose can be a soothing influence by walking out to the mound to talk with her.
"I just say you can't get in your head," Hose said.
Hose is third on the team in batting average (.444), second in hits (12), second in runs scored (seven) and second in RBI (eight).
O'Leksy said Hose is one of the top catchers in the area. He relies on her for her defense. He commends her for being a student of the game.
"Meredith is a good receiver and is really good at framing pitches," O'Leksy said. "She's kind of a calming force for her."
O'Leksy calls Hose the toughest player on the team.
"She's very athletic," he said. "Any missed pitches she gets most of the time."
When it's a tough situation or full count, Hose may have an idea of what pitch she would call to have Bobak throw to get a hitter out.
"Usually, Joe (O'Leksy) reads my mind," Hose said about what pitch to call. "I'm always thinking of a pitch and then he calls it."
