SPORTS

Preble softball relying on hot bats

Andrew Pekarek
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Ron Metzler usually favors playing small ball.

The Green Bay Preble softball coach believes being patient at the plate and advancing runners with steals or bunts is a solid strategy to manufacture runs.

But more importantly, Metzler believes in playing to his players' strengths.

It didn't take long for the fifth-year coach to figure out his small-ball approach didn't fit his team this season.

"They are hitters," Metzler said. "We have won some huge games by them doing their thing, which is hitting."

Preble is batting .361, averaging 10.1 hits and 8.4 runs per game. It has recorded 214 RBIs and 84 extra-base hits over 27 games, including 29 home runs from a combination of eight players.

The Hornets (21-6) are hoping their bats will remain hot as they attempt to win a third straight WIAA Division 1 regional title today against Green Bay East.

"We knew this year that our bats were going to have to carry us a little bit more than last year," senior infielder Kaylee Francois said. "We knew we were going to have to step it up all the way around. I think we've done that."

Francois (.463) is one of three batters in Preble's lineup with a batting average above .450. Juniors Megan Timmers (.506) and Kaylen Krueger (.489) are the others. The trio has accounted for 108 RBIs.

Preble was a strong team at the plate when it advanced to the sectional finals for the first time in program history the past two years.

But its hitting prowess became more important this season with the graduation of Anna Conard, who recorded 431 strikeouts the last two years as one of the most dominant pitchers in the state.

Four of the six players in the Hornets' infield are underclassmen, including freshmen at catcher, Cassie Foytik (.382), and third base, Katie Kugel (.341).

Sophomore pitcher Rachel Piontek has put together strong outings as a first-year starter, posting 107 strikeouts to 35 walks and a 3.03 ERA over 1291/3 innings.

However, the hot bats were crucial to the Hornets going 14-2 to finish in second in the Fox River Classic Conference.

"I like playing tough competition and not having to rely on my pitcher to do everything for me," said Krueger, who leads the team with 48 RBIs and 11 home runs. "I find it fun having to work at it more, not that we didn't last year, but it's a team win more this year."

The Hornets had three of the top eight hitters in the FRCC this season. Krueger had a conference-high 31 RBIs and seven home runs in league play.

Timmers was tied for third with 27 RBIs and tied for second with five home runs in FRCC play.

Equally important to the number of run-producing hits for the Hornets has been the timing of them.

Two of Timmers' home runs came during a nine-run inning of a 13-2 victory May 19 against Green Bay East, which had beaten Preble 5-2 on April 16.

Preble had three players hit decisive home runs in picking up three FRCC victories in seven days at one point this season.

Krueger hit a go-ahead home run against Pulaski. Senior McKenna Wall hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against Ashwaubenon. Kugel hit a three-run home run in the first inning of a 3-1 victory over Bay Port, which was the FRCC champion's only conference loss of the season.

"I think it really gets us going if somebody gets a home run in a close game," Timmers said.

Preble, a No. 3 seed, is expecting a close game when it plays the season rubber match against No. 6 East.

The team probably will be looser than it was last postseason when it had the expectations that come with being a top seed and state-ranked team.

"There is not that pressure there that everybody assumes already that we're going to state," Francois said. "There is not that kind of pressure there. All of our motivation comes from us."