For her club softball team she’s a middle infielder. During her four years with the Archbishop Murphy High School team she was often drafted into pitching duty, even though she’s not really a pitcher. But no matter where she’s positioned on the field, she’s all slugger when she comes to the plate.
Brooke Jordan was the foundation of the Archbishop Murphy softball team the past four seasons. Not only did she twice attain the school record for home runs in a season, slugging 10 as a sophomore and 12 as a junior, she was willing to take to the pitching circle when called upon. This year as a senior, with the Wildcats adding an infusion of young talent, she was going to spend less time in the circle and more time at shortstop for an Archbishop Murphy team hoping to make state for the first time since 2007. Unfortunately, that opportunity was taken away when the coronavirus outbreak resulted in the cancellation of spring sports.
But Jordan’s softball journey isn’t over, as she’ll be joining the Seattle University Redhawks. The Herald spoke to her about that, her experiences as a pitcher and more in this edition of the spring sports senior salute:
What is your favorite memory from your time with the Archbishop Murphy softball team?
My sophomore year we were playing Granite Falls in the playoffs, and if we won this game we would go to districts. I was the starting pitcher and the other team scored six runs off errors and stuff, so it wasn’t a very good start. But then I got to bat, and I ended up going 4-for-4 with three home runs and a double, driving in seven runs. We ended up winning the game to go to district, and it was definitely one of the more exciting games.
You pitched a lot for Archbishop Murphy, but you’re not really a pitcher. What was that like?
It was definitely very stressful. Especially since I don’t really practice pitching on my own, I’m not a pitcher, and it’s definitely a big role. But as the games went on I definitely got better at it.
Do you enjoy pitching?
No. Not really. I liked playing shortstop a lot better. On my select team I play second base and shortstop, where I’m way more comfortable. I’m out of my comfort zone when I’m pitching.
But clearly you’re in your comfort zone at bat. At what age did you become a power hitter?
It was my second year at 12U. I’d always have base hits when I was younger, but my second year at 12U was when I started hitting more home runs and having way more power.
I think it was that I just started lifting weights more, and I was learning more about hitting. When you’re younger it’s harder to understand. As you get older and get more coaching, you’re able to take in more of what they’re teaching you, and I was processing more as I got older.
You’re headed to Seattle University. Why did you choose SU?
I chose SU because I always wanted to be close to home, I’m really close with my family. I like the environment there and I like the coach (Geoff Hirai). My thing is hitting, and he’s a really good hitting coach. He didn’t criticize my swing or try to break me down, but he did teach me and help me learn more. That helps a lot. And I just like the school, too.
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