POQUOSON, Va. — Brooklyn Arneault is not your typical pitcher.
“When you pull out big games the wins are so special, and it just makes you have fun, and you remember why you do what you do,” said the Poquoson High School senior.
Yes, she has many characteristics of a standout pitcher boasting a 1.20 era with 165 strikeouts on the year but from there she heads to the dugout and grabs her batting glove and helmet. Brooklyn is third in the lineup for the Islanders, hitting .425.
“A lot of people just get shocked I think because normally your pitchers are not strong hitters and they’re not someone you’re expecting to hit balls to the fence or whatever, but I’ve always thought that that’s the best part, being able to do two different things,” she said. “It’s always been normal for me. I’ve never only been a pitcher that doesn’t hit so it's kind of my norm, but I know a lot of people have a stereotype that they can’t hit because your main job is to pitch.”
Another one of her favorite parts is the pressure.
“I’ve always done well under pressure. I just do better that way, so I feel like it was the best position for me. I like it because everyone is leaning on you to do your best and set the tone of the game really.”
That’s also what Brooklyn loves about nursing which she’ll be studying at East Carolina University next year.
“Nursing in the ER was like that. You just have to keep moving on and think on your toes as quick as you can. Being in the ER solidified the fact that I want to do nursing.”
But adrenaline and pressure aside, for a pitcher there’s nothing that quite matches the feeling of a closeout.
“When the last batters up in the 7th inning, you’ve got two outs with a runner on in a close game, striking out that final batter is the best feeling.”
