The closer you get to the sun, the brighter the light shines.
Benet senior Stephanie Abello flirted with the state record for home runs in a season last year, finishing with 22 — just two short of the 24 that Goreville’s Taylor Odom hit in 2012.
Abello’s pursuit of that record was well documented by the local press, which will likely be at it again this year, since Abello’s 48 career home runs have her only seven away from breaking the all-time record of 54 set in 2012 by Johnston City’s Cierra Hutchinson.
Last year’s Naperville Sun Player of the Year, Abello was named All-State and All-American player, and doesn’t plan to get too caught up in the hype.
“It’s in the back of your mind but once you’re at the plate, it’s just that game, that at-bat, that moment,” Abello said. “So I’ll just take it one game at a time.
“Besides, I had a good year last year and we didn’t make it downstate. Even if I break the (all-time) record this year, it’s about my team. I’m staying more focused on winning than on breaking any record.”
The Illinois-bound catcher hit .481 as Benet (30-3) was loaded with quality hitters last season. With many of those players now playing college softball, good pitches to hit may be harder to come by for Abello.
“One of our fears is that people will just pitch around her all day long,” Benet coach Jerry Schilf said. “But that’s what happens when you hit 22 home runs in a season.”
Abello’s patience at the plate could be tested this year if pitchers opt to pitch around her, but with quality power hitters in Emily York and Megan Stoppelman following her, that may not happen.
But if it does, Abello will be ready.
“I’ll try to stay patient and take what they give me,” Abello said. “A walk is a walk. If I get on base, I get on base.
“It will be hard because I have an aggressive mentality as a hitter so I’ll have to stay patient and make that adjustment mentally. And as soon as they give me a pitch to hit, I’m going to try to hit it hard.”
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Hitting aside, it will be unfortunate if Abello’s abilities as a catcher get lost in the glare of chasing an all-time state record.
“She’s a phenomenal catcher. She picked off 15 runners last year and only had two girls steal on her the entire season,” Schilf said. “That is unheard of. She’s a great defensive player and you tend to overlook those abilities when people concentrate so much on the home runs.”
So while she will likely set a new state record for homers this year, asked whether it feels better to hit a home run or throw out a runner trying to steal, Abello hedged.
“I’ll take both,” she said. “They both feel great.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance writer.
Team Outlooks
Benet (30-3, 17-1 ESCC): Last year’s conference champion graduated a ton of talent but returns a pair of power hitters in Stephanie Abello (.481, 22 homers), Emily York (.509, 11 homers). Pitcher Megan Stoppelman (4-0, 1.77 ERA) steps into the No. 1 spot.
Metea Valley (8-22, 7-12 UEC Valley): Most of coach Kris Kalivas’s position players are back, led by catcher Kara Leckinger (.355) and infielder Megan Arcivar (.350). “How well we perform will depend heavily on our pitching,” Kalivas said. Elise Titiner pitched in 19 games last season. Peyton Voights (.308), Megan Archey (.294), Monica Jauch (.348), Katie Kennedy, Lisa Harrington, Sydney Bajusz and Fran Senese bring experience.
Naperville Central (28-8, 12-2 DVC): A Redhawks team that reached the Class 4A supersectional graduated lots of talent, but pitcher Julie Kestas went 21-2 with 221 strikeouts in 188 innings with 12 shutouts over the past two seasons. Shortstop Lisa Tassi (.380), outfielder Katie Lamich (.301) and top-shelf second baseman Lindsay Gonzalez (.448) lead offense.
Naperville North (22-13, 9-5 DVC): Pitt-bound Alexis Solak (.464, 43 RBI) leads group of four seniors committed to play in college, along with Rachel Martin (.392), Rachel Aiardo (.330) and Bailey Engel. Eight returning starters have Huskies looking to build behind the pitching of juniors Alex Hanselman (8-3) and Dani Biesiada (7-4).
Neuqua Valley (20-13, 8-8): Five players are now playing in college, but the Wildcats return bevy of .300-plus hitters in Dominica Lange (.412), Jenny Budds (.375), Julia Huebner (.311), and Molly Price (.300), plus varsity experience in Nicole Dehnel, Aryana DiBernardo, Elizabeth Gale and Jessie Boudreau.
Waubonsie Valley (27-8, 16-3 UEC): The Warriors won the UEC Valley last season and figure to make another run at it, led by pitchers Shannon Hohman (16-6, 162 strikeouts in 147 innings) and Jordan Kurth (1.50 ERA in 87 innings), along with infielder Layne Thresh (.333), outfielders Christina Pembrook and Audria Wagenknecht, and infielder Sabrina Calabrese.
Compiled by Gary Larsen