PEORIA — Senior third baseman Aubriella Garza stands only 5-foot-3, but the Northern Illinois recruit has set the bar high in softball for Oswego.
Garza is the only four-year varsity player this spring for the Panthers. She got her start primarily as a pitcher, but quickly demonstrated an excellent batting eye and swing as well as a good glove.
And that’s not all, according to Oswego co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi.
“She looks like a strong kid,” said Scaramuzzi, who pitched in college. “I would be intimidated pitching to her. Anybody who’s seen Garza knows she’s gonna put a good swing on the ball.
“Northern Illinois is getting a gem.”
Garza, who holds seven program records, continued to add to three of the five that are career marks as the Panthers blasted Oak Park-River Forest 13-2 in six innings Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
Garza smacked a double in the first inning to open a 17-hit barrage for Oswego (37-2). It backed junior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony (21-1), who struck out six and scattered six hits and three walks.
The Panthers, who took third last season, advanced to the state championship game for the first time in program history. They will play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Barrington (35-3-1), a 1-0 winner over Lockport (31-10) in a 10-inning marathon.
Garza and the Panthers made the program’s first trip to state last season.
“You know, the second time’s a charm, right?” Garza said with a smile. “We’re here. We might as well take home the championship.
“Stepping back onto this field was very nostalgic for me and a few of the other girls who are returnees from last year. We felt like this was our opportunity to take advantage of this moment.”
They did so with a strong all-around game.
A sparkling defense led by junior shortstop Kennedy Gengler also gave Anthony confidence, starting with an impressive double play.
With a runner on, Gengler ranged toward second for a grounder up the middle. She made a diving stop, landing with her glove on the bag, then hopping to her feet to throw out the batter at first.
She had been talking about making just such a play to a teammate before the game.
“I said, ‘All I want is a diving play up the middle,’” Gengler said. “To get an out and double play, I’ve never done that before.”
Four innings later, Gengler made another diving stop and slapped the bag with the ball in her glove for the third out, ending a scoring threat for Oak Park-River Forest (29-9).
“Preparing for the game, we knew we were gonna score runs,” Scaramuzzi said. “We just knew that we had to have the defense to back it up.
“Kennedy was a difference-maker in that game. She really gave us the momentum on that double play and we ran with it with our bats.
Freshman leadoff hitter Adalynn Fugitt finished with four hits to lead the Panthers and Anthony helped herself with three, including two doubles to drive in three runs.
Senior designated player Sabrina Zamora, senior left fielder Natalie Muellner and junior center fielder Savannah Page each chipped in with two hits and two RBIs.
Garza’s double upped her program career record to 53. An RBI single later in the game improved her record for career hits to 185 and for career RBIs to 119.
Garza also holds season and career records for home runs with 13 and 33, respectively, as well as the single-season mark for doubles with 16 and for career pitching wins with 59.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “The best of the best in our program hold those records. Our coach (Scaramuzzi) even has a pitching record. It’s definitely an honor to be up on that wall.
“I know how good this team is, though. Some of my records will be beaten by these girls. I’d be grateful to pass them on. I’ve held them, but it’s something meant to be broken.”
