A memorable summer softball season persuaded Carolyn Kuhn to try out for the Glenbrook South varsity team this spring.
After playing junior varsity lacrosse as a freshman, Kuhn said switching to softball wasn’t an easy decision. But she has no regrets.
“I did have to think about it a lot,” said Kuhn, a sophomore. “I really did like lacrosse. It was tough.”
The Titans graduated 11 seniors from last season’s softball squad, but Glenbrook South coach Kay Sopocy said she had no hand in recruiting Kuhn to the team.
“They have to do what they need to do,” she said of student-athletes. “We are happy to have her.”
Indeed.
Kuhn already is the Titans’ starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.
In the 14-2, five-inning loss to Maine South in Park Ridge on Thursday, April 16, Kuhn went 0-for-1 with two walks and made several solid plays in the field. She even showed off her arm in the bottom of the third inning of the Central Suburban South game when she made a strong throw toward home, but it was cut off before reaching the catcher.
“She’s a tremendous defensive player,” Sopocy said. “She catches anything and keeps everything in front of her. And she has a gun for an arm.”
Kuhn, who throws left-handed and bats from the left side, was a good example of what most coaches want from their No. 1 batter.
In her first trip to the plate, Kuhn worked the count full before earning a walk. She walked again in second after seeing another six pitches and a full count. Kuhn flew out to third base on the fourth pitch of her third and final at-bat.
“I’ve been taught to be patient,” said Kuhn, who plays with the Trevian Girls Softball Association team in the offseason. “You have to get the pitcher to pitch to you. It’s not like I won’t hit the first pitch if it’s good, but I do like to get deep into the count. That can get a pitcher tired and help out my teammates.”
Judging by Kuhn’s history with the sport and success this season, she might not struggle with choosing her sport next spring.
“I played softball my whole life, so I thought it was a good time to do something different as a freshman,” she said. “But I do want to focus on one sport, and I had so much fun with softball that I picked it for this year.”
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