Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony timed her varsity breakout last season just about perfectly.
Anthony helped the Panthers make an historic run to taking third place in the state. But now, with the postseason beginning anew, the Purdue-bound junior pitcher is an established commodity.
It’s a big difference.
“Everybody knows I’m a good pitcher, so they’re here to beat me and it’s not going to happen,” Anthony said. “I do what I need to do. I’m here to compete and they know I’m here to compete.”
As far as competition goes, Anthony delivered a dominant performance Tuesday as top-seeded Oswego cruised to an 8-0 win over Metea Valley in a Class 4A Oswego East Regional semifinal.
Anthony was brilliant, striking out 17 and walking one in a three-hit gem for Oswego (32-2). She also hit a two-run homer, tying her with Aubriella Garza for the team lead with 13.
Adalynn Fugitt added two hits and two steals and scored twice for the Panthers, who extended their program record for wins and will play for a second straight regional title at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Garza and Sabrina Zamora each tallied two hits and drove in a run for the Panthers, while Zamora scored twice. Sydney Eakin, Maielle Ernser and Elena Gonzalez had hits for Metea (8-21).
Iowa recruit Kiyah Chavez, Anthony’s catcher and one of her best friends, has seen the subtle ways that Anthony has improved and taken steps forward this season.
And they’re not all related to her electric stuff.
“I think she just feels more confident, more comfortable,” Chavez said. “There are so many things I could say about Jaelynn. She’s obviously a fantastic pitcher and we’re very lucky to have her.
“The strongest part of her development is definitely getting more comfortable with who she is and what role she plays. I think before she was a solid pitcher but she wasn’t sure where she fit in with leadership roles, that kind of stuff.”
Oswego co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi echoed those sentiments, acknowledging that Anthony has made the jump from breakout pitcher last spring to savvy veteran this season.
“She just has the confidence this year to attack those hitters, which I think has been the difference-maker with her this year,” Scaramuzzi said.
Anthony puts fear into opponents with her bat, too. The Panthers were up only 1-0 after a sluggish start when Anthony came to the plate in the bottom of the third with one out and Garza on second.
“I was expecting a change-up,” Anthony said. “All of our good hitters got first pitch change-ups. I’m not going to swing at a first pitch change-up.
“I saw an inside pitch and it was the best pitch I was going to get, so I took advantage of it and hit it hard.”
Anthony took care of the rest in the circle, striking out the side in the seventh to put the finishing touches on her win.
A year ago, Scaramuzzi would have been happy with advancing. After finishing third in the state and returning a ton of talent, though, the mindset has shifted.
“Last year, every win after we had our first win in the postseason was a surprise,” Scaramuzzi said. “We didn’t really have any expectations. This year, we said from the beginning the biggest challenge is managing expectations because we know we’re that good.”
Anthony, meanwhile, has been embracing that challenge.
“We just know we’re capable of getting there and we’re not playing down to any team,” Anthony said. “We’re here to win and to make a state run again. We’re excited. It makes it way better.
“They’re trying to beat us and we’re like, no, that’s not going to happen.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
