A year ago, Mary Kate Quaid proved her value to Oswego East with an ability to multitask.
After playing several key positions and hitting .384 with 25 RBIs on 22 hits in limited duty, Quaid actually entered this season listed as a junior catcher/utility on the Wolves’ roster.
She’s found a home, however, at shortstop.
“We really like her there,” coach Sarah Davies-Dymanus said. “Mary is so quick with her arm. She gets to everything. In less than half a second, she gets rid of the ball and it’s over there to first. It’s very smooth. It’s almost like we don’t have to worry so much.
“She’s settling in there really well and kind of taking control of the infield.”
That was the case again Friday.
Quaid handled three defensive chances with ease and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to spark the host Wolves to an 8-1 Southwest Prairie West win over crosstown rival Oswego.
In the completion of a game that started Wednesday but was suspended after two innings due to lightning, Nicole Stone (2-2) struck out three and scattered five hits and a walk.
The Wolves (9-6, 2-2) committed just one error behind the junior right-hander.
“Nicole has decent velocity and that wind blowing in helped her throw people off,” Davies-Dymanus said of Stone, who also hit a batter. “Her change-up was really nice.
“She pitched to contact. There were a lot of pop-ups and soft grounders that our infield was able to get to, and it worked out well.”
The victory wasn’t as easy as the final score might indicate, however.
Oswego freshman Jaelynn Anthony (4-2), despite struggling with her control with five walks and one hit batter, battled Stone almost evenly through five innings.
The Wolves led 2-1 before breaking loose with a six-run rally off Anthony and sophomore reliever Aubriella Garza
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in the sixth that was highlighted by a two-run single from Finley Anderson, RBI singles by Quaid, Kenzie Gatz and Ronnie Craft and a sacrifice fly from Stone.Although Oswego (11-4, 2-2) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Wolves answered in the bottom half on an infield single by Quaid and an RBI groundout by Gatz.
“She’s just a freshman, but we were excited to see her and what she has,” Davies-Dymanus said of Anthony. “It looks like she’s going to have a fantastic future as she keeps throwing and getting stronger.”
Garza, who leads Oswego with a .560 average, noticed a difference in Stone’s pitches.
“She normally throws outside a lot,” Garza said. “But with the wind, her ball kind of moved a lot more.”
Quaid, who has played shortstop with her travel team, played third base and outfield last season with several seniors in front of her.
At the plate, Quaid confirmed she tries to keep it simple after preparing with weekly hitting lessons throughout the winter.
“I just get out of my head, actually,” she said. “When the season started, I tried to focus more on myself, not thinking about everything with mechanics and just trying to have fun when I’m in the box. That usually helps me hit the ball really hard.
“And when the wind is blowing like this, I just try to hit line drives and not swing for a home run. In this wind, it will just get caught up in the air. I try not to swing too hard otherwise.”
It seems to be working.
Batting cleanup, Quaid already has 21 hits and a .488 average, both team highs. Her 13 RBIs are tied with Gatz for the team lead.
And the defense clicks.
“With Mary Kate and Tristin Hyland at third base, we have a fantastic combo on the left side,” Davies-Dymanus said. “They’re best friends. The communication and the rhythm of things between them, it’s nice to have a set piece that’s very strong on that side of the defense.”