The strong suit of Aurora Central Catholic senior Charlotte Brummel is definitely her pitching, but the North Central College commit swings a pretty mean bat, too.
Brummel actually throws left-handed and hits right-handed. In fact, she brings Teddy Roosevelt to mind for Chargers coach Mark Pasqualini.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
“She’s picked up her offense,” Pasqualini said of Brummel. “She’s committed — one of our hardest-working kids. She’s just so quiet. She doesn’t get all the big attention.”
That could change very soon.
Brummel, who played first base Saturday afternoon for the Chargers in 11-1 nonconference win over visiting St. Edward, definitely left a mark with her hitting.
Her rocket-shot single to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning was misplayed into a three-base error, allowing her to round the bases for the game-ending run. It was the third time Brummel, who also beat out out an infield single and hit a one-hopper triple off the fence in left, scored.
It all came in support of winning pitcher Kate Gambro, a Benedictine recruit. The senior righty threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk, giving up one unearned run for ACC (4-0).
Losing pitcher Alaina Nolan, hurt by several unearned runs, had a hit for the Green Wave (0-1).
And for Brummel, that was the big thing.
“I do like to hit,” she said. “I don’t like when I don’t get to hit. I work hard at it, so I want to be able to show it off.”
That work includes lessons the past three years with John Van Gennep, an instructor with Brummel’s GenuWin Reign Fastpitch travel program.
“I like to swing early so my whole mojo, I guess, is trying to figure out where I’m going to get better,” Brummel said. “I’ve been trying to stay back on the ball and actually leveling out my swing because I don’t get the full extension otherwise.
“I’ve definitely worked hard at that, and I think all my hits have been good. (NCC coaches) want me to pitch, and I’ll have to earn my spot for hitting.”
She struggles to explain why she bats from the right side.
“My parents tried to teach me to hit left-handed and they couldn’t do it,” Brummel said. “I write and throw left, but I can’t swing from the left. You would think it would be really easy but I can’t.
“There are some other things I can do better with my right, too.”
In the circle, Brummel provides balance for Pasqualini’s talented three-pitcher starting rotation that includes ace Corina Miller, a junior right-hander, and Gambro.
“The movement is different on my pitches, coming from the left side, and can give some batters trouble,” Brummel said.
Her lone start, earlier in the week at Newark, provided a fun challenge.
Newark coach Jon Wood has been Brummel’s travel coach since she started playing with GenuWin Reign. She was matched up against his daughter, Dottie, who is a good friend.
“I’ve known her since I was 12,” Brummel said. “I knew I had to pitch well. I was really excited when I saw that I was pitching that game. She pitched great, too. It was a good game.”
Brummel struck out six in a three-hit shutout for a 1-0 squeaker. Gambro drove in the lone run.
“Charlotte was outstanding — lights out,” Pasqualini said. “Every ball was a weak grounder or a lazy pop-up. Everything was moving.”
Moving the ball in and out and changing speeds are key for her success, according to Brummel.
“My change-up was going a long way and my screwball, which breaks outside to right-handed hitters, was definitely working that day,” she said. “I’ve been working hard over the winter and it showed.”
Miller, who finished with an 11-3 record last season, is slated to pitch every other game with Brummel (5-2) and Gambro (7-1) alternating starts.
“We’ve been lucky these first four games,” Pasqualini said. “We haven’t made a pitching change yet. If one tires out, we’ll go to the next one.
“Corina is the workhorse, but Charlotte and Kate are equally talented. It’s a good challenge to have, plus they can all play in the field and provide offense.”
