Benet pitcher Sami Schilf never heard the doubters but worried they were out there.
The wariness was a natural reaction to making the varsity team as a freshman with her father, Jerry, as Benet’s coach.
“I always hated people thinking I was on varsity just because my dad was the coach,” Schilf said. “I’m sure people do think that, but having my dad being the coach motivates me more because I don’t want people to think that. It makes me work hard every day.”
Three years of hard work have paid off for the North Central College recruit, who will be asked to assume her biggest role yet in her senior season.
Jerry Schilf used four pitchers in 2021, a season in which the Redwings went 10-2 down the stretch and won a Class 3A regional championship despite not having any seniors.
But staff ace Elayna Brdecka will not pitch this season, focusing on playing infield and outfield positions like she will do at Dayton. Another pitcher, Bridget Cunningham, will miss the season following shoulder surgery.
That leaves Sami Schilf and four-year varsity starter Sam Mikitka to share pitching duties.
“We’ve got good offense and some speed, but we need the pitchers to step up,” Jerry Schilf said. “We’re only going to go as far as those two pitchers take us.”
Sami Schilf, who also plays first base, hit .319 with 14 RBIs as a junior. But she wasn’t heavily used as a pitcher, going 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA. One of those wins was against Class 2A runner-up Joliet Catholic.
The Redwings are counting on her to win many more games.
“Sam has the extra pressure of being dad’s daughter,” Jerry Schilf said. “In a lot of situations, she would have to work harder to prove herself — not to me, but to parents and the other players.
“But it doesn’t really seem to bother her. She has a good time on the field and a very positive attitude.”
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Indeed, Sami Schilf has enjoyed playing for her father. Jerry Schilf has coached her since she was 7, except for the past two summers when she played for a travel team in Schaumburg.
“It’s been fun,” Sami Schilf said. “I’ve always liked having my dad coach for me. It motivates me more to always work harder to make him and everyone on my team proud.”
The bigger role doesn’t faze her.
“I am nervous because I haven’t pitched that much the last three years of high school,” Sami Schilf said. “But I love pitching, so I’m excited to pitch a lot more to see how much I can grow as a player.”
Sami Schilf, who is left-handed, had been seriously considering Hope College and Alma College before North Central expressed interest. The Cardinals were looking for a lefty, and she fell in love with the school after touring the campus.
Jerry Schilf will have a decision to make this summer.
“I’m not sure what it’s going to be like next year,” he said. “She’s going to be gone, and my wife and I have talked about is it time to retire so I can follow Sam, or do I stay at Benet? We’re not sure what we’re going to do at this point.”
For now, the Schilfs are enjoying their final season together.
“It’s been a great experience,” Jerry Schilf said. “When your daughter has success, it sometimes puts a tear in your eye. She just smiles and has such a good time playing with her teammates.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.