Just like her big sister Kathleen, Andrew pitcher Clare Hester has a fastball that hits the catcher’s mitt and makes a loud pop.
She’s very unlike her big sister, however, after she throws strike three.
Something is missing.
“Haha … The Hester Hop,” Clare said, laughing. “Yeah, that hop is more Kathleen’s thing. I’m definitely more likely to just give a smile.”
And on that note, the junior right-hander is settling in quite nicely as one of the leaders for the Thunderbolts with both her arm and bat.
In eight pitching appearances, Hester (5-1) has 27 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. On offense, she’s hitting .333 with four runs, two home runs and nine RBIs for Andrew (9-1-1).
There is plenty to smile about, too.
“It feels pretty good because in past years I watched Kathleen obviously be the ace,” Clare said. “I learned a lot from her. You could really tell her passion for the game just watching her pitch.
“She worked so hard, and that really motivated me. And seeing her work pay off was a real inspiration for me. Now, I’m glad to be able to fill her shoes.”
Kathleen Hester was the ace of Andrew’s pitching staff for three seasons. As a senior, she had 178 strikeouts in 121 innings and posted a 2.25 ERA. For her career, she had 445 strikeouts.
At Bowdoin, Hester already has three wins, with a team-best 29 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA.
Back at Andrew, senior catcher Madison Vrastil said the difference between the siblings is subtle.
“Clare is a little bit harder on herself because she wants to be perfect all the time,” Vrastil said. “Kathleen would say, whatever, and just bounce back. But I like that Clare can have the discipline to be perfect.”
So much is similar, however. Including the signature pitch.
“The Hester change-ups are definitely the same,” Vrastil said. “They are deadly. It’s crazy. I know it’s coming, but every time it gets me. It takes so long to get there, I’m like, ‘Oh, no,’ and then ‘OK,’ and then ‘Oh, no’ again, and finally ‘OK.’”
Clare Hester throws the change-up for strikes more often than not. And even though she might not hop when she freezes a batter for strike three, she definitely enjoys the show.
“I like seeing the reaction from the batters,” Hester said. “Sometimes, they’ll load back and then they’ll be like, ‘Wait, when do I swing?’ I love to see their faces when they see it.”
The strongest Hester tradition is their love of softball.
“We both started out playing basketball, volleyball and all the other sports,” Hester said. “But I’d say in about fourth grade for each of us, we figured out what sport we wanted to play the most.
“That was softball. I don’t really know why it happened. I guess we both just really loved it. I’d go to Kathleen’s games and see her and want to be like her. We would go to pitching lessons together, pitch in the backyard together and we’d hit together.”
Kathleen had already established herself as an ace when Clare arrived in high school as a freshman. But Clare’s first impression on Andrew coach Alyssa Gunther was a strong one.
“Yeah, I remember at tryouts when there were times I was like, ‘Clare is better than Kathleen,’” Gunther said, drawing laughs from Hester. “Throughout the years, Kathleen really excelled, but Clare got some opportunities and did a lot of learning.
“It is hard to come in as a freshman and make an impact on the varsity. She took those two years to learn from all of the pitchers. It’s really special to witness it now that she’s getting the ball a lot more.”
And as junior shortstop MaTaia Lawson will attest, it’s pretty special to play behind her.
“I’m always confident in Clare, every time,” Lawson said. “Even last season when she’d come in, I’d be like, ‘OK,’ knowing she’d get us a ground ball or a popup. And if she couldn’t do it herself, we’d have her back.
“I remember one day at practice this season, we were kind of being snappy, joking around. All of a sudden Clare said something and I was like, ‘Whoa, I didn’t know Clare could get like this, guys.’ All I could say was, ‘Well, hello.’”
Her time, hop or not, has arrived.
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
