BRODHEAD - Amanda Pickel is still getting used to being the No. 1 pitcher for the Brodhead softball team.
It was hard to tell that Thursday, when the junior combined with Brooke Boegli on a three-hitter to lead the Cardinals to a 13-0 thumping of Evansville.
Pickel was the No. 2 pitcher behind all-stater Erika Stampfli the last two seasons.
"When I warm up longer, I always throw better," Pickel said. "I feel like I'm throwing more strikes. It gives me confidence. It's reassuring to know that I have Brooke who can come in and can do just as good of job."
Pickel pitched four innings and gave up three hits as Brodhead improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Rock Valley South. She didn't issue a walk.
"She didn't get behind in the count," Brodhead coach B.J. Bockhop said. "She threw first-pitch strikes. If she can throw first-pitch strikes, we can move our defense around a little bit and she can get a little crafty. I didn't call any pitches. (Catcher) Taylor Douglas did a great job of calling the game."
Brodhead freshman Payton Wright was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. The Cardinals turned four Evansville errors into three runs, recorded six stolen bases and took the extra base at every chance.
"I think we have a lot of fast kids who can steal some bases, keep running and score runs," Wright said. "I felt confident. My team was backing me up and supporting me."
Wright led off the second by lining a double to left. Erin Kloepping walked and Douglas reached on an error. Taurie Burns then ripped an RBI single to left to spark a three-run second.
The Cardinals put the game away by batting around the order in a six-run fourth. Douglas walked and stole second. Tabby Harnack reached on an error. Erica Baxter beat out an infield single. Wright then came through with an RBI single and Kloepping followed with an RBI single to give the Cardinals an 11-0 lead.
Bockhop said this is his first time as a coach that no one on his team struck out.
"Good things will happen when you put the ball in play," he said. "We will be aggressive (running) all year long. We are young, but we are definitely improving."
It was hard to tell that Thursday, when the junior combined with Brooke Boegli on a three-hitter to lead the Cardinals to a 13-0 thumping of Evansville.
Pickel was the No. 2 pitcher behind all-stater Erika Stampfli the last two seasons.
"When I warm up longer, I always throw better," Pickel said. "I feel like I'm throwing more strikes. It gives me confidence. It's reassuring to know that I have Brooke who can come in and can do just as good of job."
Pickel pitched four innings and gave up three hits as Brodhead improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Rock Valley South. She didn't issue a walk.
"She didn't get behind in the count," Brodhead coach B.J. Bockhop said. "She threw first-pitch strikes. If she can throw first-pitch strikes, we can move our defense around a little bit and she can get a little crafty. I didn't call any pitches. (Catcher) Taylor Douglas did a great job of calling the game."
Brodhead freshman Payton Wright was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. The Cardinals turned four Evansville errors into three runs, recorded six stolen bases and took the extra base at every chance.
"I think we have a lot of fast kids who can steal some bases, keep running and score runs," Wright said. "I felt confident. My team was backing me up and supporting me."
Wright led off the second by lining a double to left. Erin Kloepping walked and Douglas reached on an error. Taurie Burns then ripped an RBI single to left to spark a three-run second.
The Cardinals put the game away by batting around the order in a six-run fourth. Douglas walked and stole second. Tabby Harnack reached on an error. Erica Baxter beat out an infield single. Wright then came through with an RBI single and Kloepping followed with an RBI single to give the Cardinals an 11-0 lead.
Bockhop said this is his first time as a coach that no one on his team struck out.
"Good things will happen when you put the ball in play," he said. "We will be aggressive (running) all year long. We are young, but we are definitely improving."
