Latest news with #Netzel
Chicago Tribune
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Better and better': Oswego's Jaelynn Anthony is the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year.
Junior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony has come a long way and so has Oswego in softball, with players getting measured this week for state championship rings. It's no coincidence. The first time coach Paul Netzel saw Anthony three years ago at tryouts, he thought he had found a pretty good varsity candidate in the freshman right-hander. What he didn't see right away, however, was the complete player the outgoing youngster with the strong arm and ever-present smile would become. 'We were split on whether to bring her up,' Netzel said of his coaching staff. 'We knew we needed another pitcher we could use in the rotation to back up (sophomore) Aubriella Garza.' Netzel, a retired teacher who had coached a number of sports at various levels in high schools and colleges since 1967, felt confident Anthony could handle that role and made the call. Anthony also played in the infield. 'Then, all of a sudden, she started hitting,' Netzel said. 'I remember a home run at Geneva, a real blast, and all the kids were doing that 'she's a freshman' chant in the dugout. 'We were amazed as anyone about her hitting.' Indeed, her .483 batting average this season pushed her career mark to .409. Still, the Panthers primarily relied on stellar work in the circle by the Purdue-bound Anthony — the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year — to win the Class 4A state title. Anthony set the program record for wins in a season, going 22-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 193 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings as Oswego (38-2) won its first state title after taking third last spring. Unfinished business has been completed, led by Anthony in the team's 7-0 run to the title. 'She just keeps getting better and better,' said Annie Scaramuzzi, an Oswego alum who came aboard last season as pitching coach and then became the program's co-coach with Netzel. 'Jaelynn plays better in big games.' None were bigger than Oswego's seven postseason games. Anthony pitched all 48 innings and gave up just 23 hits and 16 walks for an excellent .812 WHIP, which is walks and hits per inning. She struck out 70 and allowed just five runs for a 0.70 ERA. She relied on a fastball that one radar gun had her topping out at a personal-best 72 mph in the state championship game against Barrington, along with a change-up, curve and rise. 'Last year she was dominant — this year even more so,' Scaramuzzi said 'This year, she really gained confidence after having done it last year. She wanted to go out and have fun.' Anthony, who also holds the program's career record for wins with 47, was especially impressive in three wins during the final week. It started Monday when she carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a 5-1 win over Marist, finishing with a one-hitter. She followed with a 13-2 rout in six innings over Oak Park-River Forest in Friday's semifinal and a four-hitter in a 4-1 win over Barrington in Saturday's final, both complete games. Anthony, who had two doubles and three RBIs in the semifinals, knows it's not just her, though. 'Jaelynn's quick to acknowledge she has a great offense backing her up along with a standout defense doing the same,' Scaramuzzi said. 'That stage in Peoria, there's a lot of pressure. 'It's why we emphasized so much work on our middle infield defense this season.' Anthony has taken pitching lessons from St. Charles-based Jill Waldron since she was 12. 'She's always positive and has a strong work ethic,' Waldron said. 'She's never not focused but always giddy. She laughs at her mistakes but instantly flips a switch and goes to work to fix them.' And here's a scary proposition for opponents. Anthony believes there's room for improvement. 'I've been trying to learn a drop ball and a drop curve,' she said. Even though Oswego has to replace six seniors from 10 starters, including the designated player, Anthony likes the Panthers' chances again. 'We will be back,' she said. 'It will definitely be tough, but we're gonna come back and win.'
Chicago Tribune
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Rikka Ludvigson, who also wrestles, feels good about Oswego's chances after Alabama trip. ‘A lot more focused.'
Seeing is believing for Oswego's Rikka Ludvigson. The senior first baseman and Milwaukee School of Engineering recruit is expecting big things for the Panthers coming off a record-setting 29-win season for her team in 2024. It wasn't always the case. 'Last year, when the season started, if you had told me we would place third in state, I probably would have laughed in your face,' Ludvigson said. Who's laughing now? Ludvigson and her teammates went out and captured the program's first regional title since 1987. The Panthers followed that up by winning their first sectional title and then advanced for the first time to the Class 4A state finals in Peoria, where they split a pair of games — losing 2-1 to champion St. Charles North and beating Mundelein 12-7 — to secure that third-place trophy. Can they do it again? Ludvigson, who played a key role a year ago, thinks it's possible. She hit .388 last season and tied for third on the team with 45 hits, tied for second with 40 RBIs and hit three home runs to earn Illinois Coaches Association second team all-state honors. 'She hits it where the ball is pitched,' Oswego co-coach Paul Netzel said. 'If they get it inside, she'll crush it. We have her batting third now just because of her consistency with people on base. 'Rikka will make contact.' Last week, Oswego (5-0) traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and won all four games. Ludvigson is hitting .400 with three doubles and three RBIs. 'She can lay down a bunt and handles the bat really well,' Netzel said. 'She will move runners along, showing off good in-game management.' Ludvigson, who carries a 3.9 GPA, plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Intrigued with Lego bricks at a young age, she does particularly well in math and science classes. She's one of five returning starters from the middle of last year's lineup who plan on playing at the next level. That list features seniors in catcher Kiyah Chavez (Iowa), third baseman/pitcher Aubriella Garza (Northern Illinois) and left fielder Natalie Muellner (Wisconsin-Whitewater) and junior pitcher/shortstop Jaelynn Anthony (Purdue), who has emerged as the team's ace. During travel season, Ludvigson is Anthony's catcher and also plays third base. She's developed her skills at first base the past two springs with the Panthers. 'We can't afford to not have her playing first,' Netzel said. 'She's got such quick hands and feet.' He did have Ludvigson catch Anthony last week in one of the two games Anthony pitched in Alabama. Netzel and co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi used five pitchers on the trip as Oswego allowed just one run and outscored opponents 29-1. Ludvigson said she came to the sport different from most players. 'When my mom and I were sitting in the car in the grade school drop-off line, I kept seeing Oswego Outlaws decals on car windows and asked her what it was,' Ludvigson said. 'It turned out to be perfect timing because someone had just quit when we asked about it so there was a spot for me and I really liked it.' Curiosity got the best of her again two years ago when she saw a poster about open mat sessions for girls interested in trying wrestling at Oswego. 'Some friends and I thought we should try it for fun,' Ludvigson said. Ludvigson didn't have as much success as Chavez, who finished second in state, but she stuck with it. 'Honestly, I don't like it too much, but it has helped me a lot,' she said. 'There's a lot of running, a lot of working out and training. I love the people and the coaches, but I'm glad it's done.' Not so for softball at Oswego, which has a target this season. 'There's definitely pressure,' Ludvigson said. 'Even in practice, you can sense it. But we're also a lot more focused on making that run again. Last year, we were very loose. 'We're still having fun but we know what we're capable of doing.'
