CLINTON, Miss. — Former Great Falls High standout Erin Hocker was named to the all-tournament team at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II softball tournament over the weekend.
Hocker, who was the 2018 Montana Gatorade softball player of the year after helping Great Falls High to a 22-0 record and Class AA state championship, is in her freshman season at Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College. Kirkwood was the seventh seed at the NJCAA Division II tournament and earned a fourth-place finish Saturday.
The Eagles opened the tournament with a win over Illinois Central College in the first round on May 22. They lost to Des Moines Area Community College on May 23 but bounced back to win three consecutive games to get back to the fourth-place game in the true double-elimination bracket. Kirkwood again lost to Des Moines Area to end its season.
Hocker pitched in all six of the Eagles’ tournament games, earning wins against Illinois Central, Madison College, Louisburg College and Highland Community College – Kansas.
In Kirkwood’s game against Illinois Central, Hocker struck out three batters in a complete-game performance. She allowed only seven hits and two earned runs in the Eagles’ 3-2 win. Hocker again started against Des Moines Area in the second round, this time taking the 6-3 loss. She gave up 12 hits and six runs while striking out eight.
Hocker made her first appearance in relief in Kirkwood’s third game of the tournament, throwing three scoreless innings as Kirkwood rallied from a 9-3 deficit against Madison. Her best game of the tournament, though, came against Louisburg. She hurled a two-hit shutout, striking out nine to help Kirkwood to a 2-0 win.
Hocker had another solid performance against Highland, allowing six hits and three earned runs over seven innings. She entered in relief in the Eagles’ final game against Des Moines Area, as well, allowing two earned runs over 5.2 innings.
LSU Eunice defeated Phoenix, 10-5, in the NJCAA championship game.
