EAST PEORIA — Lemont’s Natalie Pacyga will be going to Kansas City for a travel tournament this weekend, even though she would rather be playing in Peoria.
The junior second baseman knew she was going somewhere to play softball, but the destination depended upon whether her high school team could win Monday afternoon or not.
“I’ve been in Peoria for the state finals my freshman and sophomore years,” Pacyga said. “I wish we could go back to Peoria this year, but we will be back next year.”
Kansas City, here she comes.
The Western Illinois recruit was the only Lemont player to get a hit off Stanford-bound Elena Krause in a 7-0 loss to Pontiac in the Class 3A East Peoria Supersectional at the EastSide Centre.
Lauren Grames and Allison Pawlowicz drew walks and were the only other baserunners for Lemont (25-12), which came into the game as the reigning two-time state champions.
Krause, a junior right-hander, struck out nine for Pontiac (29-7), which plays at 10 a.m. Friday in the state semifinals against Fenwick (17-9) at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
As a freshman and sophomore, Pacyga helped her team make that trip to state and win two championships. She declared that her team will be returning next spring to that stage.
“One hundred percent,” Pacyga said. “Seeing (Pontiac’s players) holding up that supersectional plaque gives me so much motivation. I think we can do it. I know we can.
“I’m excited for the future of Lemont softball. I think it’s great, and this is going to give us a lot of fire. I think you are going to see us back here at the same time next year.”
One of the positives for Lemont coach Chris Traina was knowing Pacyga has another year.
“Nat’s a gamer and a competitor,” Traina said. “If she has a bad at-bat, she’s willing to come in and forget that at-bat and be ready. I think her leadership is going to carry into next year.”
Pacyga, whose double to left field in the second inning was the lone hit for Lemont, said the scouting report related how Krause locates her first few pitches in the strike zone.
“I knew I was going up there swinging,” Pacyga said. “I tried to play super loose — just have fun and enjoy the moment.
“(Krause) had really good movement and was keeping us off our toes with her off-speed and rise pitches. Her drop is really good, too. Hats off to her. She’s a really, really good pitcher, and I know she’s going to do great things at Stanford.”
Rhea Mardjetko, an Illinois Wesleyan recruit, finished her career by pitching six solid innings in relief. The senior right-hander struck out seven and allowed just one earned run.
She’s the fifth sister to play softball for Lemont softball after Jade, Nina, Kali and Sage. And there is one more on the way as Mila, who’s in eighth grade, will try to keep the family tradition going.
“She is 5-foot-11 and she is just as good as me, Sage and all of my other sisters,” Rhea said of Mila. “She has a lot of potential.”
Pacyga, meanwhile, will be play stress-free softball in 2025, having already made her college decision. Western Illinois offers a fire science degree. Her long-term goal is to be a paramedic firefighter.
Her uncle, Brad, is a paramedic firefighter and her father, Brent, is a policeman, so she got the itch to help people early in life.
“It was something I always wanted to do,” she said. “Helping people is a big thing for me. I never really wanted to sit at a desk job. I always wanted to be on my feet.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
