Maddie Misch stares down pressure for St. Laurence. ‘Gives me some adrenaline.' Plus, area state softball notes.
Time after time, Montini had a runner in scoring position with two outs against St. Laurence pitcher Maddie Misch. And then, moments later, a zero went up on the scoreboard.
It happened in each of the final four innings as the Vikings crept closer and closer to making softball history. Finally, they won to advance to state in Class 3A for the first time ever.
When the going got tough, Misch got going Monday for St. Laurence in a 6-2 victory in the Class 3A Benedictine Supersectional. The junior right-hander dodged disaster like a pro.
'I actually feel like the pressure sometimes gives me some adrenaline,' Misch said. 'I feel I've always kind of performed well under pressure. It never really has gotten to me.
'I have trust in my defense. I know that I don't have to worry about those situations because I know my defense has my back. I have confidence we can get out of any situation we get into.'
Misch has been — if not an unhittable force — certainly a clutch performer for St. Laurence (23-7), which will play Providence (25-11) at 10 a.m. Friday in a state semifinal game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
During the regular season, Misch and fellow junior right-hander Breanna Cahue were a one-two pitching punch. St. Laurence coach Teagan Walsh could very well use both against Providence.
But Misch has come up big in her playoff performances.
'With Maddie, just the growth we've seen from sophomore to junior season is tremendous,' Walsh said. 'She holds herself accountable, she holds her teammates accountable, and she's a great voice even when she's not in the lineup.'
When Providence plays at state for the first time since 2018, junior second baseman Bella Olszta will be doing some catching up to her older brother.
Last season, Eddie Olszta was a starting infielder in baseball for the Celtics, who won the Class 4A state championship.
Little sister wasn't jealous. Far from it.
'I think of my older brother as someone I look up to,' Bella said. 'I do compete with him a little bit, but I more look up to him. When he went to state, I said, 'I really want to do this. It seems super cool.''
She will get her chance in Friday's semifinal against St. Laurence.
Olszta has been one of the standouts this season for Providence. She's a .333 hitter with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 12 RBIs.
During her three years on varsity, Olszta has been one of the Celtics' most versatile players,
Although she was a natural middle infielder, Providence coach Jim Holba played her at third base and first base during her freshman and sophomore years.
'We had a need at those positions the past two seasons,' Holba said. 'We had an older girl (Sophia Thormeyer) playing at second base. Bella is a good athlete, so we put her in the fire pretty quick. She was willing to step in and get it done.
'Bella has progressed every year, putting extra points on her average. And she has been a quiet leader for us.'
Junior first baseman Alexis Vander Tuuk thinks that Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec is a pretty cool aunt. But playing for her is even cooler.
'She is definitely one of the stricter coaches I've had,' VanderTuuk said. 'But I like how she's able to joke with us still. We have a lot of serious moments at practice, but we're also allowed to have fun while working hard.
'For me, personally, playing for my aunt is very similar to playing for my mom (Ali), who coached me on my travel team. They are very similar people with very similar coaching tactics. It's a crazy experience, but I'm blessed to get to play for her every day because she is an amazing coach.'
VanderTuuk will be in the starting lineup at 3 p.m. Friday when Lockport (31-9) plays Barrington (34-3-1) in a Class 4A state semifinal.
After two seasons on the junior varsity, VanderTuuk has emerged as a solid player this spring for the Porters. She's batting .301 with 12 doubles and 13 RBIs.
Aunt Marissa is pretty proud.
'Alexis is a ballplayer, and it's fun for our family,' Chovanec said. 'She has done a great job at first base for us with her glove and her flexibility and she's consistent hitting in the 5-7 hole.
'It's exciting that she has stepped up. She earned her spot.'
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