All day, Emma Day.
That’s the nickname Hinsdale Central senior Emma Day was given by her teammates during her sophomore season of basketball.
While the nickname was a simple spin on a sign that hung in a Hinsdale Central gym — All day, every day — it perfectly sums up how Day approaches the game of softball with her work ethic and consistent hitting.
“She’s really energetic and gets everyone going,” junior Alysa Doneske said. “She’s the teammate that everyone would want on their team. She’s a really good power hitter and can hit bombs all day, so whenever she’s up we expect big hits.”
Hinsdale Central head coach Lee Maciejewski said Day knows the right thing to say at the right time to teammates.
“[Day is] very charismatic and she carries the load for the team,” Maciejewski said. “She works as hard as anyone can work and she’s a leader. When we’re up, she keeps us up, and when we’re down she brings us back up.”
Day has been on varsity all four seasons, and while she knows her hitting is extremely valuable, she thinks the area she contributes most is in the outfield, where she can be a mentor for the younger players.
“We have a lot of young girls in the outfield this year and a lot of girls who didn’t play outfield before,” Day said. “It’s my job — and also Annemarie Tracey, who is a senior that plays center field — to step up, lead the way and help them out when they’re struggling.”
Against York on Friday, May 2, Day used both her bat and leadership skills.
Day put the Red Devils ahead early with a two-run homer, but Hinsdale Central had a somber bus ride home after York rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pick up a 6-5 West Suburban Silver home win.
It was the type of loss where Day will have to make sure no one hangs her head for too long.
“You have to have that drive and passion because we may win some and lose some, but if you keep at it and keep going we’ll be so, so good in the future,” Day said. “I’m just trying to show them what could happen if they give 100 percent every time.”
Even though Hinsdale Central (9-7, 2-3) lost to the conference-leading Dukes, (15-1-1, 5-0) Day was able to use Friday’s game as an example of the progress the team is making, not just this year but over the course of her career.
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“Our program has come a very long way,” Day said. “Before, I don’t think we would have stood a chance against York and now we almost had them.”
Notes
* Hinsdale Central never trailed until the final half-inning. Annie Burns had an RBI single for the Red Devils, while Faith Koffron slugged a two-run double.
* In a bizarre coincidence, York’s Sarah Maciejewski, who is no relation to Hinsdale Central coach Lee Maciejewski, hit the game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. Adding to the coincidence, Lee Maciejewski coached Sarah’s dad, Mike Maciejewski, on the Glenbard West football team more than 30 years ago.
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.