Senior Bella Pauls is a pitcher for Andrew, but not on a regular basis.
She plays in the outfield, but on more or less an as-needed basis.
Pauls is not an everyday player for the Thunderbolts. But she is a wonderful example of a kid that you want on your team. Her dedication is MVP-worthy.
“Even when I am sitting on the bench, I want to be here for the team,” Pauls said. “This team is so much fun. Coach (Alyssa) Gunther really helps out with that and makes it nice to be here.”
The Concordia Wisconsin recruit was given a big chance to pitch Monday. And Pauls came up aces for host Andrew in a 4-3 SouthWest Suburban Conference win in nine innings over Lincoln-Way West in Tinley Park.
Texas recruit MaTaia Lawson had four hits for Andrew (14-8, 5-4). Emma Scislowicz walked it off on an infield smash that drove in courtesy runner Aubrey Shewmaker.
Addy Ridgway added two hits for the Thunderbolts. Reese Forsythe, Reese Rourke and Molly Finn each finished with two hits for Lincoln-Way West (16-8, 5-5).
Lawson was the hitting hero of the day with a two-out triple that tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. She also had a double during the game-deciding rally in the ninth.
“I take it as just another at-bat and try to do my job,” Lawson said. “You just have to have confidence. When it goes through, it feels great.”
For Pauls, it was a day to feel exceptionally great.
The right-hander went all nine innings, striking out eight. She stranded six baserunners, keeping the Thunderbolts within striking distance.
“It meant so much to me to be able to start today,” Pauls said. “We’ve had a rocky last couple of weeks, but I came in with a lot of confidence in my defense. I knew they would try their best and we got the job done.”
Pauls earned the quality start for a couple of reasons.
“She’s been throwing a lot of strikes of late,” Gunther said. “She has been making competitive pitches. When she has to come into a game, she has been doing her job.
“Bella also works really hard at practice. It’s hard to not be an everyday starter, but she trusted the process and stuck with it. It was fun watching her throw a lot of strikes out there in this game.”
Pauls threw a bevy of them in the top of the ninth. She struck out the side, catching the final batter looking.
“That was definitely my best inning,” Pauls said, her eyes lighting up. “I wanted to make my team proud.”
Pauls is in her second season on the varsity. She’s one of three pitchers with Carleton recruit Clare Hester and Kerra O’Reilly. Monday’s win boosted Pauls’ pitching record to 4-0. She has 34 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.
Her role on the varsity has been different from her time as a regular on the freshman and JV teams.
“It can be tough, but I’ve always looked up to Clare and I’m glad to have her,” Pauls said. “I also looked to my college coaches a lot for advice. I came to practice and worked my hardest and just took things one day at a time”
Scislowicz can vouch for the work ethic.
“Oh, Bella never gives up,” Scislowicz said. “She does so much extra stuff. Some people might sit and say, ‘I can’t do anything else.’ But she is out there 24/7, trying to get better.
“Watching her out there today, she was definitely tired, but she kept pushing and pushing. She goes all out. She’s the best.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
