Seeing is believing for Oswego’s Rikka Ludvigson.
The senior first baseman and Milwaukee School of Engineering recruit is expecting big things for the Panthers coming off a record-setting 29-win season for her team in 2024.
It wasn’t always the case.
“Last year, when the season started, if you had told me we would place third in state, I probably would have laughed in your face,” Ludvigson said.
Who’s laughing now?
Ludvigson and her teammates went out and captured the program’s first regional title since 1987.
The Panthers followed that up by winning their first sectional title and then advanced for the first time to the Class 4A state finals in Peoria, where they split a pair of games — losing 2-1 to champion St. Charles North and beating Mundelein 12-7 — to secure that third-place trophy.
Can they do it again?
Ludvigson, who played a key role a year ago, thinks it’s possible.
She hit .388 last season and tied for third on the team with 45 hits, tied for second with 40 RBIs and hit three home runs to earn Illinois Coaches Association second team all-state honors.
“She hits it where the ball is pitched,” Oswego co-coach Paul Netzel said. “If they get it inside, she’ll crush it. We have her batting third now just because of her consistency with people on base.
“Rikka will make contact.”
Last week, Oswego (5-0) traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and won all four games. Ludvigson is hitting .400 with three doubles and three RBIs.
“She can lay down a bunt and handles the bat really well,” Netzel said. “She will move runners along, showing off good in-game management.”
Ludvigson, who carries a 3.9 GPA, plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Intrigued with Lego bricks at a young age, she does particularly well in math and science classes.
She’s one of five returning starters from the middle of last year’s lineup who plan on playing at the next level. That list features seniors in catcher Kiyah Chavez (Iowa), third baseman/pitcher Aubriella Garza (Northern Illinois) and left fielder Natalie Muellner (Wisconsin-Whitewater) and junior pitcher/shortstop Jaelynn Anthony (Purdue), who has emerged as the team’s ace.
During travel season, Ludvigson is Anthony’s catcher and also plays third base. She’s developed her skills at first base the past two springs with the Panthers.
“We can’t afford to not have her playing first,” Netzel said. “She’s got such quick hands and feet.”
He did have Ludvigson catch Anthony last week in one of the two games Anthony pitched in Alabama. Netzel and co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi used five pitchers on the trip as Oswego allowed just one run and outscored opponents 29-1.
Ludvigson said she came to the sport different from most players.
“When my mom and I were sitting in the car in the grade school drop-off line, I kept seeing Oswego Outlaws decals on car windows and asked her what it was,” Ludvigson said. “It turned out to be perfect timing because someone had just quit when we asked about it so there was a spot for me and I really liked it.”
Curiosity got the best of her again two years ago when she saw a poster about open mat sessions for girls interested in trying wrestling at Oswego.
“Some friends and I thought we should try it for fun,” Ludvigson said.
Ludvigson didn’t have as much success as Chavez, who finished second in state, but she stuck with it.
“Honestly, I don’t like it too much, but it has helped me a lot,” she said. “There’s a lot of running, a lot of working out and training. I love the people and the coaches, but I’m glad it’s done.”
Not so for softball at Oswego, which has a target this season.
“There’s definitely pressure,” Ludvigson said. “Even in practice, you can sense it. But we’re also a lot more focused on making that run again. Last year, we were very loose.
“We’re still having fun but we know what we’re capable of doing.”
