Marist pitcher Gianna Hillegonds got praise from not one but two catchers.
For Notre Dame commit Caroline O’Brien, calling Hillegonds’ change-up was the absolute delight of Monday afternoon’s game against host Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox.
“Oh, calling it and catching it as they whiffed,” O’Brien said. “It’s such a beautiful pitch. Every time I call it, I’m excited to see what happens.”
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Junior catcher Lucy Cameron — one of only three players for the Knights not to strike out at least once — saw enough to give Hillegonds her seal of approval.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Cameron said, smiling. “I think she came in with confidence and kept it throughout the game. We were a little antsy at the plate, but she’s pretty good.”
Hillegonds dueled with dazzle for the RedHawks in 4-2 nonconference victory.
Northwestern recruit Isabel Cunnea and Gabi Novickas each hit home runs for Marist (5-1). Hillegonds, a sophomore right-hander, stuck out 11 and allowed just three hits.
Sarah Kmak hit a home run for Lincoln-Way Central (2-3). Josie Jager added two hits, while Bella Dimitrijevic struck out nine.
Hillegonds is the third different staff ace in the last three seasons for the RedHawks. The previous three pitchers — Brooke McNichols, Abby Dunning and Angela Zedak — ended up being all-state.
It’s enough to make a sophomore nervous. And yeah, it did.
“It’s a little pressure, trying to live up to Abby and Brooke and all of the other great Marist pitchers,” Hillegonds said. “But at the same time, it’s super exciting.
“It’s so amazing to have all of these talented hitters and fielders. It feels good to have that backup and know that it doesn’t have to be just me.”
Hillegonds is the first sophomore that Marist coach Colleen Biebel has given the ball to on a regular basis in some time.
“Probably since Angela Zedak in her sophomore year,” Biebel said. “But even last season, when she had her chance on the mound, she had a poise to her.
“The good thing about ‘GH’ is she doesn’t get too high or too low. She’s very tough mentally. When she gets out there, she knows what her job is — to throw strikes and hit her spots.”
And mix it up.
Hillegonds has more than adequate speed. The change-up, however, was her top knockout pitch against Lincoln-Way Central.
“My change-up has changed a couple of times,” Hillegonds said. “I’ve been throwing this one since the fall when I went to a new instructor and he taught me a bunch of new stuff.
“It’s just so cool to see them swing and miss. I love it when it works.”
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Hillegonds faced her first major challenge in a pitching duel March 22 against Lemont’s Sage Mardjetko, the Daily Southtown’s player of the year in 2022.
Mardjetko and Lemont prevailed 1-0, but Hillegonds was exceptional, striking out a batter in six of the seven innings.
“After I pitched against Lemont, I felt pretty good,” Hillegonds said. “I was like, ‘Well, if I can do this …’ It was pretty nice for a first big game.”
She’s also proven herself to one of Marist’s top hitters.
“‘GH’ is kind of a quiet kid, but she’s very fierce when she’s pitching,” Cunnea said. “She’s competing on that mound. You know when she steps on that rubber, she is going to give you her best game.
“It’s really inspiring to watch. She has worked so hard. She has seen Brooke play. She has probably watched us to see Abby play. She knows how you need to carry yourself to be a great pitcher. And she really has filled that spot very nicely.
“I can’t wait to see how she keeps going up and up and up.”