Scarlette Tegtman has been a consistently productive player since she first cracked the Crown Point softball team’s lineup as a freshman two years ago.
But the junior outfielder has grown in another way.
“I feel like my freshman year, I kept to myself,” Tegtman said. “I was doing some good things. But I feel like I’ve learned to do stuff for my team and make things better and open up and talk to more people.
“I just try to bring everybody up even when we’re down. I always try to stay positive.”
Tegtman’s optimism has influenced her teammates as she intended.
“She’s a very upbeat person,” Crown Point junior corner infielder Ashlyn Kita said. “She keeps everyone up.”
Tegtman has kept her production up throughout her career. The Providence commit hit .422 with 13 RBIs and a team-high 31 runs scored for the Bulldogs (21-7) last year. That came after she earned a starting spot within the first week of her freshman season and batted .400 with 28 RBIs and 21 runs.
“She came in as a freshman and worked her way on to varsity with consistent and reliable performances,” Crown Point coach Angie Richwalski said. “She has speed and precision on offense, both at the plate and on the bases.
“She’s one of those very solid players who is really consistent and grinds and puts in the work to be really reliable but doesn’t always get the recognition because she’s a slapper and not a home run hitter.”
Tegtman might never be known for hitting homers, but she has worked on increasing her strength since last season. She suffered a fractured left thumb in November while playing with her travel team and was sidelined for about a month, but it was only a temporary setback.
“I focused more on swinging away and delayed steals,” Tegtman said. “I focused on hitting more for power.”
Tegtman already contributes mightily for the Bulldogs. Kita, a DePaul commit, highlighted Tegtman’s ability to make things happen.
“She’s very fast, and she’s very good at getting on base,” Kita said. “She’s usually the one who’s scoring the runs. She’s very good in that aspect. She’s also very good at spraying the field. She can put it wherever she wants. She really does a lot for the team.”
Tegtman likes the team’s prospects this season. The Bulldogs will try to compete with Lake Central in the Duneland Athletic Conference and in the playoffs. The Indians went undefeated in the conference and reached a Class 4A semistate semifinal last year.
“We have it in us,” Tegtman said. “We’re good enough. We have the strength to do it. We can get them this year.”
The Bulldogs’ 2024 season ended in an upset loss to Lowell in a sectional semifinal.
“I feel like we can use that as leverage,” Tegtman said. “We know we could’ve done better. We just fell off at the end and crumbled a little. But this year we have a lot of talent and a lot of team chemistry, so I know we’re going to be really good.
“It’s fun with all of the girls. We have a really good team environment.”
Tegtman figures to be among the players leading the way for the Bulldogs.
“She’s a sweetheart and really embraces the joy of the sport,” Richwalski said. “Now as a junior she’s poised to have a great season.”
