The time is now for Lake Central senior outfielder Moira Falli.
A Saint Louis recruit, Falli has had to wait for her turn. She aims to be a key player for a team with the loftiest of aspirations.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “I didn’t have much experience on the field last year besides base-running, so I’m really excited to play a bigger role this year. Hopefully I’ll be in the outfield, and hopefully I’ll be able to show off all of my skills, my slapping and my swinging away this year.
“I’m excited to take my opportunity. It was hard being behind Jolie (Adams) last year, but I’m excited to step up and prove myself this year and have a great season for my teammates and have a great season for myself as well.”
Falli remained engaged last season, when Lake Central (32-2) won its third Class 4A regional title in four years and didn’t lose a game to an Indiana team until the Class 4A semistate semifinals.
“My main goal was to be the best I could be in the dugout and as a runner,” Falli said. “I didn’t get many opportunities, but when I did, I think I did a good job with them.”
Indeed, Falli batted .650 last season. She had 13 hits in just 20 at-bats and scored 14 runs.
“It gives me some confidence, but I always want to improve,” she said. “I always want to be better. I want to show my speed this year a lot with my bunting and my soft slapping and my swinging away too. I have a lot more power.”
That power largely stems from Falli’s dedication in the weight room.
“The weight room has been my best friend for maybe the last year and a half, the last year for sure,” she said. “Weightlifting has helped me a lot. I’ve been going to a lot of speed and agility classes, core classes — just getting everything I can stronger for this year and for college next year.
“I’m trying to make sure I stay at the top of the lineup. I focused on my swinging away a lot this offseason, so I really want to focus on that, as well as my slapping. It’s like adding a new tool to my toolbox.”
Senior third baseman Kate Renschen, a Northwestern recruit, expressed confidence in Falli.
“We lost a couple of slappers last year, so Moira’s one of those really good slappers who can just put it in play,” Renschen said. “If it’s a little bloop in the infield, she can run to first, beat it out. She can poke one through the gaps too.
“She’s just really good at getting on base, and when she does get on base, she’s a really good base runner. She can get those extra bases. I think she’ll be really important for us this year.”
Lake Central coach Yvette Tovar knows Falli has put in the effort to be successful.
“She’s been working extremely hard,” Tovar said. “She’s improved over the last couple of years. … She’s really stepped up leadership-wise as well. She’s going to get some opportunities this year to prove the work she’s put in is worth it.
“She’s just a good kid. She’s extremely smart. We always strive to be student-athletes, not just athletes, and she’s a good example of a student-athlete.”
Falli, who announced her commitment to Saint Louis in November, intends to study data analytics there. She would like to get a job with Major League Baseball.
“That’s what I’m going to work toward,” Falli said. “Big dreams, but hopefully I’ll fulfill them.”
The Indians also have big dreams they’re hoping to fulfill this season. Seven of the 14 players on the roster are seniors.
“They keep calling it their ‘last dance,’” Tovar said. “It’s a nice little slogan. I’m very excited. Everybody is. Players, fans, community — they’re all extremely excited for this year.”
That includes Falli.
“We have a very talented group, but we want to make sure we stay humble and just focus on one game at a time,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll make it to the final game at the end of the year, but we just want to play the best we possibly can every game.
“I’m just super excited for the season, and I hope we make a deep run and prove ourselves this year. This is our year. We’ve been waiting for so long, and this is the year to do it. We have the talent 100%. One through nine, we can hit. On the bench, we can hit. We have the pitching. Everything is ready. Everything is set up for us this year.”
