Samantha Wiertelak plays a specific role for Waubonsie Valley. As the team’s lone senior, the right-handed pitcher’s customized profile photo is the only one adorning the third base fence.
All teams crave senior leadership, especially younger teams. It becomes a bit tougher, though, when that responsibility falls on the shoulders of just one senior — as in the Warriors’ case.
But for Wiertelak, this spring has been a revelation.
“Being the one who takes on that leadership responsibility has been kind of crazy,” she said. “All of these girls are like younger sisters to me and I’m very protective of them. I want them to do well.”
Wiertelak continued to lead the way Saturday morning, throwing a one-hitter and driving in three runs for host Waubonsie Valley in a 15-0 victory in four innings over Joliet Central in Aurora.
Sophomore outfielder Dezirae Kelly stepped up with a two-run triple and added four RBIs for Waubonsie (7-11). Wiertelak struck out three, walked one and also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Pitching and hitting? Wiertelak believes one feeds the other.
“Everything goes hand to hand,” she said. “Hitting in the fourth spot, I know once the first two or three batters get on that I can get them moving.
“The same with pitching. I just work on hitting my corners and let my defense do the work.”
Kelly, meanwhile, finished 2-for-3 and scored three runs. She’s one of five sophomore starters for the Warriors. Giavanna Pyle, who had a two-run single, is one of two freshmen starters.
Sophomore shortstop Aislee Morgan pointed out the impact Wiertelak has made.
“Sammy’s just an amazing person, a great player and fantastic leader,” Morgan said. “She has a great personality. She’s funny, sarcastic, and she has a great connection with the rest of the team.”
A four-year varsity player, Wieterlak never imagined she would be the sole representative of her senior class.
“We started with a decent amount my freshman year and then they just all decided they wanted to focus on other sports they were more competitive or comfortable with,” she said.
“My first three years were a big learning experience for gaining that leadership role. We always had at least three seniors. I have to step up now being the only one.”
Waubonsie coach Valerie Wood said Wiertelak’s combination of experience, savvy and two-way talent is a connective thread that bonds the different players.
“She never seems to be rattled out there,” Wood said. “Things could be going horribly wrong and she just has a cool, calm and collected attitude.
“They could be hitting off of her or our team could be making tons of errors, but she never gets frustrated. I think the younger girls see that and it helps them get through the inning.”
Along with older sister Caroline, now a sophomore at Illinois State, Wiertelak took up dance and played T-ball growing up. Caroline stuck with dance, but Samantha stayed with softball.
At the start of her freshman year, Wiertelak then threw a curve of sorts.
“I started bowling, which I’d never really done before,” she said. “Now I have four bowling balls and I go all the time. I’m very competitive with everything I do.”
She’s also a free thinker who loves adventure, something Wiertelak developing in the summer.
“I love exploring,” she said. “Any time I go somewhere for travel ball and we get done a day early, I love going to a nearby zoo. I just love experiencing when I have those free days.”
Being Waubonsie’s only senior is far from a burden as well. Wiertelak enjoys leading the way.
“My greatest thrill is knowing I had the chance to come here and not only play for the school, but play for all the girls who either graduated before me or are going to graduate after me,” she said.
“I can create a safe space for them and I can do anything for them.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelancer for The Beacon-News.
