DANVILLE — If there is too much of a good thing, Danville pitcher Addy Bocock may have found it.
The senior hurler tossed a complete game win Friday over visiting Sheridan in a battle of league leaders from Knox and Muskingum counties.
“I used to throw too many strikes,” Bocock said following Friday’s win. “When I was throwing all strikes, the batters would come to the plate looking for a strike, and when I would throw it, they would hit it.”
The pitcher said that the coaches have given her more freedom.
“The coaches let me call my own pitches and that has taught me a lot about the game,” Bocock said. “I have had to focus a lot, a lot more out there on the mound.
“I have to think about the last time the batter was up, how did I pitch to them, what did they do? Where did they stand in the box and how are the umpires calling the game.”
As for a strategic approach?
“If I start off with a strike and get ahead of the batter, then I will throw one out of the strike zone, hoping they will chase it, but at least keep them guessing,” Bocock said.
Looking back on the perfect game, many times, in the dugout teammates will avoid contact with the pitcher, such was not the case for the Blue Devils.
“I was up one the fence talking with my teammates, I wasn’t aware that I was throwing a perfect game, it just happened, I guess,” she said.
As with many pitcher-catcher relationships, Bocock appreciates her battery mate.
“I want to give a shoutout to my catcher, Morgan Hinkins. She has done really well this year, giving me some very good frames,” Bocock said. “Morgan and I have grown a lot together and over this winter we worked together, so we kind of figured each other out.”
Bocock does not want to be a one-dimensional player.
“Besides my pitching, I concentrate on hitting as well,” she said.
On Friday night, the Blue Devils jumped to an early lead when Ruby Bartock blasted a two-run home run to put the home team up 2-0.
“That sort of set the tone and allowed us to settle in a little bit,” Danville coach Charlie Duncan said.
Though the visitors never led, the game was tied five times, until in the top of the sixth inning, the Blue Devils secured a two-run double to take a 6-4, the eventual final score.
The win pushed the Blue Devils to 15-4 overall while remaining 9-1 good enough first place in the KMAC. The loss dropped Sheridan to 13-5 overall, and 12-1 in the Muskingum Valley League.
“I was just very proud of the way we responded,” Duncan said.
He then pointed out that each member of the team wore a purple ribbon in their hair, a memorial to Aiden Riggle, East Knox Football captain, who passed away on Thursday.
