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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Always useful,' Antioch's Samantha Hillner has no set position. But she secures a Division I spot at UIC.
Antioch senior Samantha Hillner is a softball player without a position. Hillner has played numerous positions on the field, including first base, second base, third base and catcher, and she even pitched a few innings in 2024, when the Sequoits finished second in Class 3A for the second straight season. Hillner said she takes her utility role in stride. 'It's easy for me because I'm always involved no matter what position I'm playing,' she said. 'Being a utility player, if somebody gets injured, I can go to their spot. I'm always useful on the field.' Even though Hillner doesn't have a set position, she has a college picked. She announced Monday that she has committed to play at Illinois-Chicago. 'I had probably five offers, but UIC felt right,' she said. 'It's been one place that I really like. I like the people there, the coach, and they are doing great things in the program. I think there's a lot left to be accomplished. 'I like the athletic facilities. The clubhouse was very impressive, and the indoor facility was very nice. The field also has such a good view of the city.' Hillner said the city of Chicago appealed to her. 'I like the city,' she said. 'I go to the city often, especially during Christmas. I like shopping and the lake and the overall vibe of the city. 'It was an easy decision when I broke it down. If I have a rough day, my family can come the next day and have lunch.' Hillner was named a Class 3A all-state first-team selection after playing first base, second base and catcher for the Sequoits this past season. She hit .398 with 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, 38 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in as many attempts. 'She's got the metrics everybody wants,' Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said. 'She has outstanding athletic ability and the ability to play multiple positions — she basically can play every position. She's softball-intelligent and knows the right questions to ask and is always thinking ahead.' Hillner also had questions for former Antioch standout Emily Brecht, who will be a redshirt sophomore at UIC. 'She asked me a bunch of questions about the dorms, the culture and how the city is like,' Brecht said. 'I tried to help her with her decision. I wanted to be supportive.' Hillner appreciated Brecht's assistance. 'She really helped me out, and whenever I had a question, she was willing to talk and help me,' Hillner said. 'She was very detailed, and it was really important for me. She was very positive about everything involving UIC.' Hillner adds her name to a growing list of softball players from Antioch at the NCAA Division I level. Among them are Eden Echevarria (Illinois), Gabby Debevec (Illinois), Jacey Schuler (Michigan State) and Hailey Webb (Bradley). Hillner is also the fourth player in Antioch's senior class to commit to a college program, joining Addison Webb (Bradley), Claire Schuyler (Minnesota) and Kailyn Bockwoldt (Rock Valley). 'I think it's really cool, especially with so many playing in the Midwest,' Hillner said. 'I will always run into somebody I know every season.'
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Stella or stellar? Antioch's Dohrmann is both, shutting out Prairie Ridge for 7 innings in a supersectional.
Part of a new wave of underclassmen for Antioch, sophomore pitcher Stella Dohrmann wanted to establish her position on a talented roster this season. Dohrmann has found her place, to say the least. She started in the circle for the Sequoits in the Class 3A Kaneland Supersectional in Maple Park on Monday. 'Going from JV to varsity, I was really proud of myself,' she said. 'I just knew I had to work really hard to prove myself and earn a spot.' Dohrmann showed what she can do against Prairie Ridge, throwing seven scoreless innings. But the Wolves scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Antioch freshman Addison Osborne in the eighth inning to pull out a 1-0 victory. The Sequoits (24-14) fell short of a fourth consecutive trip to the state semifinals. Indiana recruit Reese Mosolino kept their bats silent for most of the game to lead Prairie Ridge (28-1-1). Junior shortstop Claire Schulyer, a Minnesota recruit, had the only two hits, both infield singles, for Antioch. But Dohrmann impressed Mosolino. 'I could tell she has a lot of potential,' Mosolino said. Dohrmann (6-4), who allowed seven hits and walked four, nearly matched Mosolino to keep the Sequoits in the game. Dohrmann said her drop curve and curveball were her two main pitches. 'When those two pitches are on, I know I'm going to have a good day, and I had a good day today,' she said. With runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, Dohrmann dug deep to force a groundout to keep the game scoreless. 'Stella hung in there and did a great job,' Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said. 'She kept them off balance and got out of several jams.' The Wolves benefited from a one-out error in the eighth, and Bella Moore and Autumn Ledgerwood followed with singles to load the bases. Rocco decided to bring in Osborne, who induced a pop-up for the second out. After the wild pitch, Osborne closed out the inning with a strikeout. But Mosolino retired the Sequoits in order to send the Wolves to the state semifinals. Even with tears in her eyes, Dohrmann expressed confidence about the future. 'I'm very excited for the next few years because I know we're going to have the bats again and more pitchers coming in,' she said. Of course, the Sequoits will also have Dohrmann, who finished with a 3.40 ERA in 67 1/3 innings. Rocco said she has come a long way since the start of the season, when the team was searching for a go-to pitcher following the graduation of four-year ace Jacey Schuler, who is a freshman at Michigan State. 'Stella didn't know what her role would be this year,' Rocco said. 'She gives us something a little different than our other pitchers. She panned out for us.' Antioch junior catcher Addie Webb, a Bradley commit, noted Dohrmann's improvement over the course of the season. 'She has progressively gotten a lot better,' Webb said. 'I think her mentality got a lot better after being timid at first. It clicked for her.' Antioch junior first baseman Sam Hillner said Dohrmann was particularly good at the end of the season. 'The past two games she had a different look and has been locked in,' Hillner said.
Chicago Tribune
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Addison Housh followed Antioch's 2024 run on social media. ‘It's completely different now.' Not for the team.
Antioch sophomore right fielder Addison Housh likes her new vantage point. A year ago, when she played on the junior varsity team, Housh said she watched the Sequoits' run to second place in Class 3A via social media. 'I didn't even go to state, but I paid attention and was really excited for the team,' she said. This season, Housh is one of three Addisons on the varsity team — along with junior catcher Addison Webb and freshman pitcher Addison Osborne – but is making a name for herself and making an impact for the Sequoits. Housh delivered two key hits late in the Class 3A Grayslake Central championship game on Saturday as top-seeded Antioch outlasted second-seeded Carmel for a 13-9 victory. 'It's completely different now for me,' she said. 'I never would have thought that I would be here, making it this far. It's really exciting, and I'm so happy to be playing for this team. It's been really exciting this year.' Like the past four years, the Sequoits (24-13) are sectional champions and will play Prairie Ridge (27-1-1) in the Kaneland Supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday with a chance to return to the state semifinals for the fourth straight season. Junior first baseman Sam Hillner led Northern Lake County Conference champion Antioch's offense with four hits, including two homers, and four RBIs. Webb added two hits and three RBIs. Senior shortstop Grace Brown, a St. Joseph's recruit, led Carmel (20-10) with a single, a home run and two RBIs. Housh was heavily involved, too, in a game when the Sequoits needed runs to hold off the high-powered Corsairs, who scored three in each of the fourth, six and seventh innings. She hit a rocket line drive over the third baseman's head on the first pitch of her at-bat in the sixth inning to stretch Antioch's lead to 13-6. She also hit a deep double to left field. 'I was excited to contribute,' Housh said. 'I didn't get hits early in the game, so I knew I had to swing at the first pitch because it was going to be a strike and swing as hard as I could. It was really cool and nice. I want to do the best I can for the team.' Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said Housh is one of several first-year players who have helped bridge the gap after graduation losses. 'Housh does a great job and can play third base for us and also help out at second base,' Rocco said. 'She started the year in a bit of a funk but came back strong. She barely strikes out, which is why we like her in the lineup. She has great power with the ability to drive the ball to all fields. She's also a very good base runner and stealer. 'Her hitting today was key. She was very patient and did a great job for us.' Housh, who also played on the JV volleyball team in the fall, said she has adapted to a new position in the outfield. 'I usually play third base,' she said. 'It's fun. I love outfield, always loved it. It's definitely different, but I'm excited to be playing and supporting the team.' Antioch sophomore outfielder Tegan Schuler said Housh hasn't missed a beat in right. 'She has stepped up a lot on our team,' Schuler said. 'She's able to do a lot of positions and is very athletic, and we have good chemistry in the outfield.' Antioch sophomore second baseman Alyna Matarieh played on the JV team with Housh last season, and they have helped the Sequoits overcome an 0-6 start. 'It's so cool to see Addison succeed in our batting order and help our team out today,' Matarieh said.
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Antioch's Carson Young is a former infielder, former outfielder and former catcher. Now he's an ace.
Antioch's Carson Young has seemingly done it all on a baseball field, shuttling between the infield, the outfield and catcher. Being versatile is an enticing prospect and is certainly helpful to the team. But Young's career was given its biggest jolt when he decided to focus solely on being a pitcher. 'It became time to pick between pitching and playing the field because physically it was a lot to go back and forth between,' he said. 'Even last year, there were times I still wanted to catch more, but it was important to fit the role that the team needed, and that was in the bullpen. 'What I embraced was getting as good as I can at one thing.' As a pitcher, Young has gotten very good. Although the right-hander is throwing only once a week, his appearances have been highly impactful for the Sequoits (17-10-1, 8-5), who have won seven of the eight games he has started and sit in third place in the Northern Lake County Conference. Young will enter his final two regular-season starts with a 5-1 record, a 1.76 ERA, 62 strikeouts and just 20 walks in 43 2/3 innings. Antioch coach Frank Fracek has slotted Young in the third game of their conference series, and the Bethel University commit has won the rubber game three times — against Wauconda, Grant and Lakes. 'That's worked out pretty well, partly because I think I pitch a lot better when there's a little more of an atmosphere,' Young said of his series-deciding role. 'I tend to feed off the pressure. This has definitely been due to all the preparation I've done. That gave me the confidence to go out there and know I'll perform.' Last season, Young was eating up innings out of the bullpen, in part because he had suffered a stress fracture in his right elbow during the offseason. The main reason cited for the injury was overuse, which factored into his decision to become a pitcher only. Young had no limitations coming into this season. He refined his slider and, after lifting weights six times per week in an effort to improve his overall physical condition, increased the velocity of his fastball. He said he reached 88 mph during the offseason. 'My body feels way better this year than it did last year, and you can tell by the way I'm throwing,' he said. That's not the only reason for Young's success. 'I've been around only a few other kids who have the competitive edge that Carson does,' Fracek said. 'He's a total gamer, and he's very driven, having short-term goals for long-term success. He's turned into our team leader because of the confidence and energy he exudes.' Young is also using his experience as a catcher to pitch smarter. 'I watch a lot of interviews with major league pitchers on YouTube, and this one called 'Slab Lab,' there was someone talking about how you should try to race to two strikes as fast as you can,' he said. 'I had never thought about that, but it makes sense. A hitter's batting average with two strikes is really low, and it helps allow me to execute pitches when I want to execute them.' Antioch senior catcher Mason Willis, a Carroll University commit, also helps in that endeavor. He has certain expectations every time Young is on the mound. 'We've had some pretty good arms around here, like Jack Olson and Dylan Feldkamp, and he's filling in the ace role as well as anyone we've had,' Willis said. 'He's the guy we trust, and when he has good tempo, he really commands the game. He has a real mound presence.' Young said he thinks that mound presence gives him an advantage, especially in the face of often-raucous opposing dugouts. 'Even when I was young, I had a way of shutting it all out,' he said. Young appreciates all of his starts this season. But his most recent appearance has special meaning for him. The conference game against Lakes on Friday was Antioch Youth Local League night. 'That was one of the most fun games to be a part of because it represented a full-circle moment,' Young said. 'I remember going to all of the Antioch High School camps and looking up to the high schoolers. Seeing kids watching us and cheering us on was a really nice feeling.'
