By: Dalton Kemper and Tyler Armstrong
When Bradley softball began their season, the consensus was that they would be a power hitting team. 27 games into this season and five games into conference play, this has been evident. In fact, Kealia Wysocki and Allison Apke have become two of the most feared power hitters in Bradley history.
Wysocki and Apke have tied the Bradley softball career home run record with Alyson Clemente at 21 each. Both are juniors and have become staples in the middle of the Braves lineup.
Wysocki started off her collegiate career by hitting seven home runs in her freshman season. In her sophomore season, she hit six home runs to bring her toal to 13 after her sophomore year. Wysocki started the 2019 season off red hot and already has broken her previous career highs with eight home runs this season.
One of Wysocki’s most impressive performances this season was a three home run, six RBI performance against San Jose State.
Wysocki is currently tied for the lead in the Missouri Valley Conference in home runs thus far this season.
Being tied for the career home run record isn’t something Wysocki envisioned though. She said, “When I first committed to Bradley, I just wanted to have a role and play. When I started playing more and more, it was something in the back of my head but I knew I couldn’t fixate on it.”
Even though having her name in the record book is a huge accomplishment, Wysocki keeps her eyes on the ultimate goal of winning saying, “We want to win games and if it happens by the long ball then that’s a plus.”
Allison Apke didn’t have the powerful freshman year that Wysocki did, but made up for that and then some last season when she tied assistant coach Rachel Huggins single season home run record of 12. With three her freshman year, her total was 15 heading into her junior season.
Tying Coach Huggins record was no small feat for Apke, who said, “Tying Coach Huggie was something special to me just because she has been a mentor for me all 3 years I’ve been here. She is someone I look up to and can always turn to for help in softball.”
To this point of the softball season, Apke has six home runs which makes her tied for third in MVC home run totals.
Apke is expected to have another great conference season after being named Preseason All-MVC Team, the only Brave to receive the honor this season.
Having Wysocki and Apke on the same team contributes to the pitchers on the Braves as well.
Junior pitcher Emma Jackson has been with Wysocki and Apke since they came to Bradley, so she has an understanding of how great the accomplishment is. It helps [the team] build confidence going into games with having such an intimidating team at the plate, Jackson said.
In Jackson’s eyes, having two teammates tied for the home run record speaks to a larger part of the team. Jackson said that having two teammates tied for the record “is a really big testament to the hard work the team has put in at the plate.”
Wysocki agrees with that statement saying, “I truly believe that my name won’t last long, this program is continuing to grow and even our now sophomore class has a huge chance to outdo what I am doing.”