Among the memorable moments junior outfielder Bree Hanik enjoyed after helping Marist clinch yet another trip to state, one was truly special for the Penn State recruit.
Northwestern freshman Isabel Cunnea came to Monday’s Class 4A Rosemont Supersectional game. After the RedHawks beat Lincoln-Way Central, Hanik’s former teammate was waiting with a big hug.
The next day at practice, Hanik was still smiling.
“I loved seeing her,” Hanik said. “Isabel was such a wonderful role model for me. I had the best role models who helped me along the way, but the effort she always put in, how much she wanted to win for us, the team, was incredible.
“It’s so great to see her in college now and playing. It’s so awesome.”
Hanik and the rest of the RedHawks (35-3) will have a bevy of alums watching at 3 p.m. Friday when they play against Mundelein (36-1) in the state semifinals at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
It’s the fifth straight state appearance for Marist. It’s Hanik’s third as a starting outfielder.
Life is definitely good.
“Oh, I’m loving it,” Hanik said. “I just love everything about Marist softball, and being able to do it even longer is such a great feeling.”
Hanik has had as much to do with it as anybody else.
Marist coach Colleen Phelan bats Hanik second in the order behind Notre Dame commit Caroline O’Brien. Hanik has proven herself as a multidimensional producer.
She hits well, touting a .418 average. She’s an excellent bunter. She also finds the gaps with a team-leading 18 doubles, and she offers up a dash of speed with 55 runs. Her 12 home runs are second on the team behind Georgia recruit Gabi Novickas with 19.
And about leadership …
“She’s someone that everyone on the team looks up to,” Phelan said. “The way she plays defense? She leaves it all out there on the field, with 24/7 as a standard.”
During Tuesday’s practice at St. Xavier, Hanik made three diving catches at the center field fence.
“Her body was flying all over the field,” Phelan said, laughing. “She covers completely from left field to right. So she loves playing defense. But she’s also an awesome hitter, a real triple threat.”
Who lives up to a pretty large responsibility.
“You know, It doesn’t really seem like a responsibility to me,” Hanik said. “I’ve said it a million times that there is just no pressure on me at all on this team.
“I know I have Caroline hitting in front of me. And even if I don’t get my job done, Gabi is behind me, Camryn (Lyons) is behind me and the rest of the order. They have my back, so there is nothing I need to worry about.”
In Monday’s 2-0 win over Lincoln-Way Central, Hanik led the way with two hits and scored both runs. She was the first to get a hit, after going 12 innings without one in a 1-0 win over Downers Grove North for the sectional title.
A single by Hanik in the first inning against the Knights was soon followed by an RBI single by Lyons. Now that’s getting off to a good start.
“Haha, that other game wasn’t even in my head,” Hanik said. “I was just in the moment. Yeah, it felt good, especially in the first inning to get us going.”
That trait has made Hanik a role model in her own right.
“Bree just brings this energy and excitement that’s hard to find, and you can’t really teach it,” O’Brien said. “She’s everyone’s biggest cheerleader. I admire her pure joy and excitement for the game. I’ve been playing with her since I was 8 years old, everything from traveling together to sleepovers to swimming in my pool.
“You just want to be around her. It makes you happy.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
