Adversity can be such a dream wrecker.
For Lemont’s Allison Pawlowicz, it struck in April 2023 when a freak accident during gym class resulted in a broken finger and the end of her junior season.
She should have been out there at shortstop, helping Lemont win its second consecutive Class 3A state title.
Pawlowicz was naturally sad. But she wasn’t bitter.
“It was heartbreaking just sitting on the bench watching them play,” Pawlowicz said. “But I had a very special player take my spot at shortstop. She was amazing.”
Pawlowicz looked over and smiled at junior teammate Natalie Pacyga. It was Pacyga who moved from second base to short and played a key role in helping Lemont not miss a beat.
“I was learning from the best,” Pacyga said. “I played with Allison for years. She gave me pointers all the way through it.”
It had been a tough day at the office for both on Wednesday as heavy-hitting Minooka came into Lemont and rolled to a 15-2 nonconference victory.
But, hey, they both had something to smile about.
Pacyga is back at her natural position, playing second base. Pawlowicz is back at short and doing well as a leadoff-hitting leader.
Through eight games, the Loyola recruit has a .391 average with one double, one triple and three home runs for Lemont (4-4). Her slugging percentage is a robust .913.
“Oh, it feels amazing,” Pawlowicz said. “It feels great to be hitting, great to be fielding at my position, especially for this being my senior year.”
She might be putting the brakes on kickball.
“I’ll definitely try not to do anything stupid in my gym class,” Pawlowicz said, laughing. “Coach (Christine) Traina is my teacher, so she’ll keep me in check.”
As a sophomore, Pawlowicz earned all-area honors as Lemont won the Class 3A state title in 2022. The next spring, she was off and running with two home runs and a .362 average when a game of kickball in gym class went off the rails.
“Me and (teammate) Addison McGrath were playing against each other,” Pawlowicz said. “She kicked the ball, I caught it, she was running toward me, and we ran into each other.”
The end result was a right pinkie finger that wasn’t pointing straight.
“When I looked at my finger, I first thought it might just be dislocated,” Pawlowicz said. “I went to the nurse and went home to relax. But later, I went to urgent care, got X-rays and found out it was broken.”
No one felt worse than McGrath — although it took awhile.
“After I slid into her, I just got up and walked away,” McGrath said. “I did not realize she was hurt like that.”
Needless to say, the consoling came later.
Pawlowicz’s attitude after surgery? Carry on. Help the team.
Most importantly, help Pacyga do some quick learning at short.
“I was comfortable knowing someone so good was taking my spot,” Pawlowicz said. “I was happy to help her with ‘Nat, throw at a different arm slot’ and ‘Nat play here’ or ‘Nat play there.’”
And she never forgot her sombrero.
“Yeah, always at practice, Allison would sit on a bucket, wearing her sombrero,” Pacyga said. “We talked a lot about where to play, where to expect the ball on change-ups. It was definitely a learning experience, talking too with (third baseman) Raegan Duncan, getting the left side advice.”
Talk about a coach’s dream.
“She’s a true team player,” Traina said of Pawlowicz. “She was always here cheering, getting the kids going all the time. She wasn’t sulking over her injury. She was there for her teammates.”
And now? Call it the second coming of Allison Pawlowicz.
“Allison is up there doing it for us in the leadoff spot,” Traina said. “She is our table-setter.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
