Pitcher perfect
North Bergen’s Hild showing true form once again on team of youngsters
After a brilliant freshman campaign that started with two no-hitters and ended with the promise of many more, North Bergen ace softball hurler Jodie Hild struggled a little during her sophomore season a year ago.
That’s not to say that Hild was awful. Far from it. But she wasn’t the same pitcher that electrified Hudson County as a freshman. She knew it. Everyone knew it.
"Honestly, I don’t know what happened," Hild said. "Maybe freshman year was luck. Last year, I just threw the ball down the middle. I wasn’t smart as a pitcher."
"I think she was a little frustrated at the end of the year and wanted to pick up a few things," North Bergen veteran softball coach Tom Eagleson said. "I don’t think she was as fast last year as she was a freshman. She also didn’t hit her spots."
Hild took it as a challenge to improve. She went to her personal pitching instructor to learn how to throw different pitches, adding a screwball to her other assortment. Hild also learned the importance of pitching to spots. She evolved into more of a pitcher, using her brain, and less of a thrower, simply using her arm.
"I did a lot more training over the winter," Hild said. "And I learned a few more pitches. I can throw the screwball to right-handed batters that acts like a drop. I was fortunate to pick that one up right away. I’m throwing my changeup a lot better. I have a knuckleball. I mix them all up to keep the batters off guard."
Added Hild, "And I’ve learned to hit the spots. I know where to throw it now, not just how to throw it."
However, there was another big obstacle that Hild had to deal with – namely a virtually new crop of teammates playing behind her. Graduation ravaged the Bruins at the end of last season, taking most of the established veterans, including Jodie’s long-time battery mate, sister Jamie. In all, Eagleson is regularly playing eight freshmen on the varsity this season.
"In the beginning, it was definitely different, not throwing to Jamie," Hild said. "And there were a lot of new girls who needed to learn a lot, so it was tough."
Eagleson said that Hild simply took the bull by the horns and became the team leader without any provocation.
"I think she just realized it herself," Eagleson said. "She’s kind of quiet and doesn’t say much, but I think she took a look around and realized that she had to take over. I didn’t have to say a word."
With that in mind, Eagleson knew that he had little worries. If the team’s best performer is the one with the ball in her hand most of the time, then all he had to do was sit and watch.
Lately, Eagleson has had to enjoy what he’s seen.
Hild has been downright brilliant once again, pitching a perfect game with nine strikeouts against Memorial and following up that performance with a no-hitter, striking out 11 against Snyder. If Hild didn’t hit a batter with a pitch against Snyder, she would have had back-to-back perfect games, but will settle for consecutive no-hitters.
For the season, Hild has a 6-3 record with a 1.57 earned run average, with 76 strikeouts in 53 innings.
"My pitches are all working so well," Hild said. "That’s a big relief."
The junior has also blossomed into a terror at the plate, batting .586 with five doubles, two triples, one homer and 19 RBI.
For her efforts, Hild has been named The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week, duplicating the honor she received after her first week of varsity softball as a freshman two years ago.
"As each week has gone by, Jodie just keeps getting better and better," Eagleson said. "I think we’re all just riding her coattails right now. I just know that she’s going to throw a good game. Over the last two weeks, she’s had a lot of gas and has been hitting every spot. She’s also picked up a lot of speed over last year."
Eagleson said that he has also been impressed with the Hild’s approach at the plate as well.
"She can hit," Eagleson said. "She’s become our best all-around athlete since Carol Cook."
That statement says it all, because Cook has long been recognized as the queen of Hudson County softball.
Hild has been pleased with her performances of late.
"It’s like freshman year again," Hild said. "I really don’t pay attention to things like that, but to get back-to-back no-hitters is something I hadn’t done in a while."
Yeah, like her first two appearances as a freshman.
"I’m happy with what I’ve been doing," Hild said. "In a way, I’ve been surprised, because of what happened last year, but in another way, I worked hard to come back strong."
Hild will get to see just how strong she is. Next week, the young Bruins will face HCIAA rivals Holy Family, Bayonne and St. Dominic Academy in the same week. Chances are that Hild, with her assortment of new pitches, will be up for the challenge, like she has been all season.