The powerful arm of junior Ellie Fox provides zip and zoom for Yorkville. The professor-like spins of senior Peyton Levine, meanwhile, offer plenty of zig and zag for the Foxes.
Both right-handed pitchers proved capable last spring of starting in the circle and flying solo, but coach Jory Regnier is counting on them to anchor the staff of what she feels is an improved team.
An eight-day layoff following their 4-0 trip to Alabama during spring break led Regnier to wonder how her duo would do working together, leading to an experiment for Thursday’s home opener.
“I wanted to see what they can do in combination,” Regnier said. “They’re completely different styles, and making an adjustment to such drastic styles of pitching is hard for a lineup.
“Now, we obviously knew the lineup we were up against coming into the game had been putting up a lot of runs in games, so we really wanted to make sure that we gave them variety.”
Lincoln-Way East, which came into the game having outscored five previous opponents 59-8, eked out a 3-2 nonconference decision.
“The girls knew going in we were gonna see how they would do with one another,” Regnier said of Fox and Levine. “That was the whole goal, and I think they did phenomenally.”
Levine started and worked four strong innings. She struck out three, scattering five hits while allowing one unearned run.
“I came in knowing they were good,” Levine said of the Griffins. “I’m more of a movement pitcher, so I just wanted to trust my defense. I knew that we can hit and we can play good defense.
“Ellie and I, we’re polar opposites. Having someone who has more movement and someone with speed, it’s hard for hitters.”
Fox’s fastball averages in the mid-60s, while Levine is capable of reaching 60 mph.
Fox pitched the final three innings, She struck out five, allowing two hits and two walks while giving up an earned run in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half of the inning, her RBI double over the right fielder’s head keyed a rally that came up short.
Lincoln-Way East pitcher Audrey Bullock, a junior who’s committed to Fairmont, countered with a four-hitter featuring 10 strikeouts and two walks.
“It was fun,” Fox said. “Going in, I just wanted to throw the ball, hit my spots and whatever happens, happens. I know they’re a good program.
“Peyton and I are like two completely different pitchers, and I think it pretty much worked. Obviously, the score didn’t show that, but it went pretty well.”
So much so that Regnier tried the strategy again Saturday against Lincoln-Way Central. The Knights also came in at 5-0, having outscored the opposition 41-10.
Hurt by early errors, Levine allow six runs in the first inning of a 7-0 loss. Fox finished strong with four scoreless innings. Florida State recruit Lisabella Dimitrijevic struck out 19 for the win.
Callie Ferko had the only hit for Yorkville. Another positive, again, was Fox.
“I’ve been working a lot on my confidence because last year I had times where everything would get in my head space and I’d let things get to me,” Fox said.
Her change-up was particularly effective against Lincoln-Way East.
“I had that pitch last year and it worked a lot for me,” she said. “I’ve been working all summer and winter on it and it’s gotten better, but it’s a big mental thing for me.”
It’s all about the timing and building confidence.
One time in Alabama, Fox shook off the pitch when assistant Megan Leadbetter called it.
“She talked to me afterward and said it’s my best pitch, which helped my confidence,” Fox said of her change-up. “This game, I made sure whenever I threw it, I was gonna throw it as a strike.”
Regnier remains confident.
“We are so athletic and they’re so positive,” she said. “We’re learning, and that’s the goal.
“Learn from every game.”
