As a featured performer on the dance team, St. Charles East’s Maddie Royer exudes a natural grace and ethereal style.
In her main sport, the way the junior outfielder hits the softball resembles a modern jazz classic or a scene from “Swan Lake.”
“What I have learned from dancing is that you can never let the emotions get the best of you,” Royer said. “You are not going to be perfect all of the time.
“You go out there to have fun, know your ability and realize you can trust yourself.”
The Saints could trust Royer and then some Wednesday afternoon in a 12-4 DuKane Conference victory over visiting Batavia. She went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs.
After narrow shutout losses against rival St. Charles North and Wheaton Warrenville South, St. Charles North (9-8-1, 3-2) erupted for 12 hits and four home runs.
Royer did a bunch of the damage for the Saints, igniting a five-run third inning with a two-out, two-RBI single.
“I love going up to the plate with confidence,” she said. “Knowing my teammates trust me and having my back is so empowering. I like being selective and waiting for the right pitch.”
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Royer saved her best for the fifth when she hit her first career home run.
“What a special moment,” she said. “It was a fast pitch inside — I love the inside pitch. And just seeing all the smiles on my teammates’ faces.”
She also added her own dance move, waiting for the umpire to give the signal that the ball cleared the left field fence.
Sophomore shortstop Gwen Shouse hit two doubles and scored three runs for Batavia (2-16, 0-4). Sophomore infielder Grace Sartain and senior outfielder Molly Giesen each had two RBIs.
Junior infielder Samantha Beers hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth for St. Charles East. Junior infielder Katie Morgan and senior outfielder Stephanie Schnite added solo shots.
“I just feel like everybody was really locked into the game,” Beers said.
The four home runs marked the second-best total in a game this spring for the Saints. For Beers, it was her third home run of the season.
“There was great communication in the dugout,” she said. “Everybody knew what we needed to look for. The home runs came and everybody was just scoring.”
Freshman right-hander Makayla Van Dinther (3-0) pitched a complete game, striking out three and scattering 11 hits and two walks. She’s now 2-0 in conference.
“When you’re a pitcher, you have to forget the past and just focus on what’s happening right now,” Van Dinther said. “I am a first-pitch strike pitcher and I like to focus on certain pitches and changing speeds.
“I was able to do that (Wednesday).”
Royer, meanwhile, is her first season on the varsity. As a dancer, she’s accustomed to movement and release. The same principles apply in softball.
She is learning on the fly — how to adapt to the speed and pace of the game.
She’s also the leadoff hitter — the one who starts the action. That part of the game comes naturally to her.
“I have been playing travel softball since the age of 3, and this year has been so great,” Royer said. “The varsity game is a lot more competitive than I thought, but it has pushed me to be better.
“That is something I love.”
As fresh talent like Royer and Van Dinther come together with experienced players like Beers, the Saints are still looking to piece everything together.
That could come in time, too.
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“I think the losses have not brought us down,” Royer said. “Everyone counts, everyone matters, and we are here to win.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.