Addy Bocock never lost a game and had the best ERA in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference this season, and her dominance continued in the playoffs as she shut out No. 2 Newark Catholic 7-0 to lead the No. 1 Danville softball team to a Sectional Championship.
"This week we gave her the node against No. 2 Newark Catholic in the Sectional Championship game," Duncan said. "She came focused and ready to go. Newark Catholic was averaging only 3 strikeouts a game up to that point. Addy put together a 4 hit 14 strikeout performance. She sat the first 10 Newark Catholic batters down on Ks."
Bocock went all seven innings, allowing only four hits and struck out 14 in the win for the Blue Devils in the Division IV, Central 1 Sectional Finals on May 10.
“Addy Bocock has stepped in getting a few more innings this past week,” said Coach Charlie Duncan. “She has seized the opportunity and has done a fantastic job. She has done everything we asked. Start a game, come in as relief, lay a bunt down to move a runner or drive one In the gap to score runs. She is in the zone right now."
The game was cut short due to rain, and when play resumed the following day, Bocock came back as strong as ever giving up only one additional hit.
Danville went up 2-0 in the second inning, after Bocock recorded a strikeout in all six outs on the mound. In the bottom half of the inning, Bocock bunted and reached on an error. Ruby Bartok and Addison Mickley, who were hit by a pitch and singled respectively, both scored on the play.
Bocock struck out the side for the third straight inning, and then later in the fourth inning Abi Sapp hit an RBI single to go up by three. Grace Gronberg hit an RBI single and then Bartok had a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sapp hit a two run single to cap off the scoring for the Blue Devils.
Danville had eight hits in the game, led by Sapp who was 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and three RBIs.
“Abi Sapp has been an offensive machine right now,” Duncan said. “Three big hits driving in three runs during our Sectional game vs Newark Catholic, and the week before during the KMAC final week coming up with 8 hits and 9 RBIs. She is having a great year.”
Gronberg hit a double and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mickley and Smith were 1-for-3 and Bartok had an RBI.
Bocock was dominant for the Blue Devils in the win. She is currently 7-0 with 142 Ks and only 4 BBs with a conference best era of 0.372.
"Addy has always been a very good player," Duncan said. "Her freshman year she was a major contributor to our success. But she sat back watched and did her job. This season she is vocal. She wants to be great and pushes everyone around her to be great as well. She is vocal in the field, loud in the dugout and pumps her fist after strikeouts. She brings energy to this team."
Bocock is arguably the best pitcher in the conference, along with fellow Blue Devil Gronberg who is also among the conference leaders in ERA, wins and strikeouts.
“The team is getting solid pitching from Grace Gronberg and Addy Bocock,” said Duncan. “They are both pitching with confidence with the defense playing well behind them. Every girl in our line up is contributing. It maybe a different girl each inning or game, but one through nine, they are doing their jobs.”
Duncan said the team is focused and still growing, and he knows the Ridgedale matchup will be tough as the team has a potent offense that once went off for 42 runs this season.
“We have to play one pitch at a time,” Duncan said. “We can’t think ahead, or we can’t relax. Locked in all game. The team set several goals this year, one was to win the KMAC. They were able to check that box. Next goal was to get back to District Championship. This week that goal continues.”
Next up for the Blue Devils is the District Semifinals against No. 7 Ridgedale. Ridgedale previously beat No. 5 Berne Union 12-2 in an upset, and knocked off No. 10 Delaware Christian 16-0 in the opening round.
