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Top 10 Stories of 2013: #2 Story of the Year

January 2, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Top 10 stories of 2013:  #2

24 Strikeout Performance By Nathan Ocker
- Note: Stories are in their original form from when they were written. This story ran on April 26 and detailed a miraculous pitching performance by Nathan Ocker in a mid-season game.

Nathan OckerMiddletown RHP Nathan Ocker was on our radar as one of the top Class of 2015 pitchers in the state prior to yesterday. Following his dominant performance he will likely be on everyone's radar. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound sophomore, ranked No. 23 in the PA Class of 2015, went nine innings on the hill in a 12-inning 5-2 loss to Palmyra. Ocker left the game with the score tied 1-1. Both teams scored a run in the 11th inning and Palmyra eventually won the game with three runs in the top of the 12th.

Ocker threw 118 pitches, an average of 13 pitches per inning. What makes the pitch-count number amazing is that Ocker recorded 24 of the 27 outs over nine innings by way of strikeout, while not walking a batter.

  • Ocker was named Mid-Penn Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2012. At the Preseason All-State Showcase he sat 84-85 with an over the top throwing motion from the mound. His 75 mph knuckle/curveball had good late break and he also showcased the makings of a quality cutter at 77 mph.
  • Ocker's 24 strikeout performance bests Titusville HS senior LHP Adam Bleday's 23 strikeout performance from 2012. Bleday, a Virginia recruit, also went nine innings in recording his total in a 2-0 win over Youngsville last April. Bleday's performance led to the PBR staff doing some research on the national record for strikeouts in a game by high school pitchers. The results of that research may be viewed HERE.

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