Kinesiology tape in the shape of a plus sign on Emma Maple’s right shoulder is a remnant.
But it’s a long way from the Kankakee Valley sophomore’s predicament last season.
Because of chronic subluxation, Maple couldn’t pitch for almost all of her freshman season. She couldn’t throw overhand either, also preventing her from playing in the field. She was relegated exclusively to the designated hitter role.
“For a while, it was hard to stay focused, to stay in the game,” Maple said. “Finally, I had this jump rope and every inning that I was coming up to bat, I’d be in the bullpen jumping rope, staying into it. I’d talk the entire time, I wouldn’t shut up. Anything I could do to stay in the game.”
Maple is very much in the game this season, pitching for the Kougars and becoming a centerpiece for their so-far-historic 10-0 season.
After receiving the diagnosis about her shoulder last spring, Maple was given two choices: Rehab or face the prospect of surgery.
She attacked rehab with a passion every day. The focus has been on strengthening the muscles around the shoulder blades and exercises to improve posture.
The therapy has worked, as Maple has gone 9-0 with a 2.62 ERA through Wednesday.
“Just getting to be in the circle is awesome,” she said.
Maple pitched just four times as a freshman, including two starts, in going 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA. She had to shut it down within the first two weeks before the calendar had even reached mid-April.
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Maple hit .346 with six home runs, 40 RBIs and 29 runs scored. Through Wednesday, she was hitting .516 with two homers, 13 RBIs and nine runs, building on that productive first season at the plate.
“She did hit really well for us, but we missed her in the field and pitching,” KV coach Brian Flynn said. “Fortunately she got that all taken care of and we’re certainly happy to have her back this year. It makes a big difference.”
With Maple’s return as a pitcher, the present and future look bright for the Kougars. Nine of the 14 players on their roster are sophomores and freshmen, including seven starters.
“We knew we’d be good this year, but this is out of this world,” Maple said.
“Some of us have played together since we were 8, so this is like our reunion year — that’s what we’ve been calling it. It’s great to play with each other again. We trust each other and have a strong team bond.”
Top of the heap: Crown Point coach Ginger Britton didn’t feel compelled to address her team regarding the Bulldogs’ ascension to the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings. She was skeptical of the methodology, and preferred to focus on more immediate tasks.
The Bulldogs moved up from No. 8 last week.
“That’s nice, but that can change on any given day. … We have tough teams to play here,” Britton said.
Oregon-bound senior pitcher Miranda Elish found out about the ranking Wednesday.
“We can’t let it get to our heads,” she said. “We just have to not think about it, and keep climbing up like we have been.”
Running joke: There have been warm days here and there. But as the cold weather has continued, Wheeler has turned the situation into something of a game within a game.
“We say, ‘Is this as cold as it was Friday (at Hanover Central) or as cold as when we played Lake Central (on April 9)? I don’t know, what’s worse?'” Bearcats coach Maggie O’Shea said after Tuesday’s game against Hanover. “We kind of compare — it’s not as bad as the other day, so we’re good.
“At this point, our girls are just used to it.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
TOP 10
Win-loss records based on available results through Wednesday, with last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Crown Point 10-0 (1)
2. Kankakee Valley 10-0 (6)
3. Boone Grove 9-2 (2)
4. Chesterton 11-3 (3)
5. LaPorte 13-2 (4)
6. Lake Central 13-5 (5)
7. Hanover Central 13-2 (8)
8. Andrean 7-3 (NR)
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9. Munster 7-6 (7)
10. Bishop Noll 9-4 (9)
Player of the week: Senior right-hander Maddy Adams pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts as Hobart edged Griffith 1-0 on Monday. Adams is a Chattanooga recruit as a shortstop.