Freshmen Sophie Rosner and Lanie Rosner have quickly become fixtures in Benet’s lineup.
But where the twins hit — and what position they play — varies from day to day. Benet coach Jerry Schilf sometimes doesn’t decide where to utilize them until shortly before games.
“Usually, once the season gets started, we have a set lineup,” Schilf said. “That’s what we’ve done forever. But we’ve had a different lineup almost every game. For me, it’s a little confusing with two twins and I have the two sisters (Gianna and Angela Horejs), so I’ve got four different players with two different names.”
But one thing is certain: The Rosners can hit and field regardless of where Schilf puts them.
“They’re very versatile,” Schilf said. “That’s a key thing. They can play all over the place.”
Schilf isn’t exaggerating. Sophie Rosner can play any position except catcher, and Lanie Rosner can play everything except pitcher.
Already this season, Sophie Rosner has pitched and played first base, right field and left field. Lanie Rosner has caught and played right field and left field.
“I started off being a pitcher, but I’ve learned to play any position that my team needs me,” Sophie Rosner said. “I like to be able to go in wherever I can help out.”
Sophie Rosner doesn’t mind all the position switches.
“Usually, I just practice multiple positions, and (the coaches) will tell me where I’ll be that game,” she said. “I’ll go there to warm up, get a little work in before the game at that position. I’m just happy to help wherever they need me.”
The Rosners seem to shine wherever they go. Through Tuesday, they had made a combined two errors in the field, while at the plate, they had combined to strike out just six times in 101 plate appearances.
Sophie Rosner was batting .289 with two home runs, 18 RBIs and 16 runs scored, while Lanie Rosner had a .415 average with 10 RBIs and eight runs scored.
In the circle, Sophie Rosner was 4-3 with a team-best 2.44 ERA in eight appearances. She had struck out 46 and walked 11 in 37 1/3 innings for the Redwings (11-5), who have won eight straight games.
Like her sister, Lanie Rosner started her softball career as a pitcher.
“Then I realized that Sophie was a pitcher, so I might as well be a catcher,” she said. “Then we could be the battery on a team. Pitching and catching just makes life easier. It’s good practice because there’s always someone there that wants to throw with you or go out and hit BP.”
Lanie Rosner has made three appearances behind the plate and caught her sister once, in Benet’s 18-5 win against Joliet Catholic on April 6.
“I’ve grown up catching her, so it always makes it easier when you know the pitcher on the mound,” Lanie Rosner said. “And to catch her in a varsity game makes it a lot more special, to know that it is what we both worked for and it paid off.”
Fans can expect to see more of the Rosners as battery mates in the future. Lanie Rosner hopes to become the regular catcher after senior Grace Babich graduates, while Sophie Rosner has the makings of a staff ace.
“(Lanie) kind of knows how my pitches move now and where they’re going to end up,” Sophie Rosner said. “I’m just more confident with her.”
Their success this season was not preordained. The Redwings had only one player who graduated last year after they won the Class 3A third-place game, so Sophie Rosner didn’t expect to make the varsity team.
“Definitely not,” she said. “Obviously, I was confident in myself, but I’m surprised at where I’m at and how much we’ve grown from being on varsity. I knew (teammates) were all going to be really good, and they pushed me to work harder to earn a spot.”
The Rosners also play volleyball. Sophie Rosner was a setter and Lanie Rosner was an outside hitter on Benet’s freshman team.
They plan to continue playing volleyball for the Redwings, but their future lies in softball, which both want to play in college. This season has whetted their appetites.
“Obviously, it’s really fun, and we’ve definitely gotten better from the first couple games,” Lanie Rosner said. “We’re learning to work together as a team more and figure out each other and how to build off of each other.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
