Softball turned into a case study for Grace Green.
The Antioch sophomore wanted to become the starting catcher this season and understood the challenge ahead of her.
So Green attacked the offseason to improve her conditioning and skills.
“I have a very strong work ethic,” she said. “I always want to be working and doing the best I can — and doing it correctly and working hard to be the best I can be.”
Green got a boost from an unlikely source: her AP Psychology class.
“It was beneficial for me playing a sport,” she said. “I learned a lot about how the mind works and to see things a different way. It stuck out to me — plus learning about extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. That helped me a lot for the softball team.”
Green is certainly doing her part to help out Antioch this season. After earning that starting role, she has been a force both behind the plate and at the plate. The Sequoits (29-3), ranked No. 1 in Class 3A in the Illinois Softball Coaches Association’s poll, will play No. 2 Lemont (32-6) in a state semifinal in Peoria at 10 a.m. Friday.
Entering the season, Antioch returned the bulk of the team that reached a supersectional last year but had a glaring hole at catcher. Green, primarily a part-time outfielder last season, was the leading candidate to replace four-year starting catcher Hailey Webb.
“Coming into this year, I wanted to play my best and prove to myself and everyone else that I was capable of taking over this position,” Green said. “I know coming into this year, it was not a set deal at catcher. I worked pretty hard in the fall, with my travel team and over the winter, on my skills to become the best catcher and athlete.”
Webb, a freshman catcher at Appalachian State, said Green paid attention to the details last season.
“I tried to lead by example and offered technique advice when we were side by side at practices,” Webb said. “She was really eager to learn and gave it her all every day. She showed great potential, and that’s showed this season.”
Defensively, Green has worked well with sophomore ace Jacey Schuler, who has become one of the top pitchers in the state in her second season as Antioch’s ace. Green also hasn’t made an error, has thrown out four runners attempting to steal and has picked off two runners.
She has moved from seventh to fifth in the batting order and is hitting .309 with two home runs and 22 RBIs. She has struck out just four times.
Green showed her value at the plate early in the season. She went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in a 5-4 win against Barrington, a state semifinalist in Class 4A, on April 4. She also had two hits and two RBIs in a 12-2 win against Northern Lake County Conference rival Wauconda on April 11.
Green had a stellar day in two games on May 7. She had three hits and drove in three runs in a 9-6 win against Glenbard East and then went 5-for-5 with four RBIs in an 18-3 win against Aurora Central Catholic.
Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said Green’s development has been instrumental in the team’s historic season. The Sequoits will earn a state trophy for just the second time.
“Last year she was a flex player, playing right field and defense and not getting a whole of at-bats,” Rocco said. “We needed help in the outfield. She did a good job. This year she stepped into a big-time limelight. She’s calling pitches, working well with all the pitchers and hit all the check marks with us.”
Green’s connection with Schuler is particularly important, for both the present and the future. Although they grew up playing together, Green said she rarely caught Schuler until this season.
Schuler is 20-2 with a 0.66 ERA and has struck out 266 batters while allowing just 64 hits in 138 innings.
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“I think it was a bit difficult at the beginning of the year because I was coming in blind,” Green said. “I’ve learned she’s a very calm person on the mound. She’s always rooted on what she knows and how to play her game. We have that in common. I stay calm in those situations, and we’re both not wound super tight on the field.”
Schuler agrees.
“Time has helped us,” she said. “(Grace) has caught every game for me, and our bond has grown game to game. Grace’s pitch calling, defensive catches and plays have been amazing. She has my back, and that’s why we have such a great bond.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.