Be it Rep City or Rip City, Metea Valley’s Claire Desrosiers has both aspects of the game covered.
When it comes to the former, we’re talking about practice, something the junior third baseman embraces. The latter refers to a hard-hit ball, which Desrosiers produces in abundance.
“She’s got such a quick release and she does great things over there for us,” coach Michaela Paprota said. “She obviously does really good work for us defensively, but also offensively.
“She crushes the ball and is solid. Plus, she’s always looking for the next opportunity to get better.”
That was evident Friday afternoon even before Metea Valley posted a 6-4 DuPage Valley win over visiting Naperville Central to clinch the program’s second conference title. The first came in 2017.
Postponed for a day by rain, the game’s start time was pushed back by a half hour because the Redhawks had to wait for an available bus.
“Even when we were in that delay, Claire was like, ‘Hey coach, can we go get some more reps?’” Paprota said. “That’s what sparked our infield to take more reps because Claire wanted some.”
It seemed to help as Desrosiers flawlessly handled four ground balls and three pop-ups to lead a strong defensive effort in support of junior pitcher Charlie Benesh (12-5).
Metea (14-12, 11-4) erased a 2-1 deficit by sending eight straight batters to the plate before making an out in the five-run third inning. The highlight was a two-run double by Nora Erwin.
Desrosiers, who has four home runs and 30 RBIs this spring, followed an RBI groundout in the first inning with an RBI infield single in the third.
“That rally was a huge momentum swing,” Paprota said.
Eight of Metea’s nine starters had at least one hit, leading to a 12-hit attack.
“Our hitters did a great job of sticking to the plan,” Paprota said. “It was a team win.”
Trusting her process helped Benesh escape a jam in the seventh.
Naperville Central (15-14, 9-5) had two straight hits after a one-out home run by junior catcher Riley Silver in putting the tying runs and first and third.
“I’m just trying to be smart and keep the ball low so they don’t have a chance to hit it out,” Benesh said, noting the strong wind blowing out to right field. “I learned from the one Riley hit over.
“It was a little up.”
Avery Miller then lofted a fly ball to center field, where Reese Valha made her fifth catch of the game for Metea and threw out Jamie Saran trying to score.
“On that last play, I really didn’t have any nerves,” Valha said. “If I got the ball, I was going for her. I knew it wasn’t their fastest player. I just made sure the ball was there and it all worked.”
Junior catcher Elena Gonzalez caught the strike and slapped on the tag for the seventh assist of the season for Valha.
Desrosiers, who was all-conference last season after being promoted from the junior varsity after her freshman year, had confidence in Benesh.
“Charlie always has this really strong mindset,” Desrosiers said. “Even when something is kind of rattled, she’s thinking ‘we’ll work this out as a team.’ She knows we have her back.
“Big props to her. It might be high pressure situation but she’s always ready to give her best and give it her all.”
The same is true for Desrosiers, who moved to third after playing first base and left field as a freshman. She also catches during travel ball.
“I’ve played third going back to when I was 10,” Desrosiers said. “The work in high school is definitely helping my skill set and confidence overall because it’s the hot corner, so the ball comes quick down there.
“Being able to be quick on my feet and executing these simple plays is going to help my team overall.”
