Adriana Callahan’s rise in softball is a long time coming.
In a way, the Libertyville sophomore second baseman was born to do this.
Her father played baseball at Ohio. A great-grandfather was a minor leaguer in the New York Yankees organization.
“I started playing when I was very young, like 1 year old,” Callahan said. “That’s when I got my first bat and tee.”
Her father, Ryan, said their family even set up a tee in their basement when she was about 4.
“Adriana would hit balls as her little brother Daniel, who was about 2 years old, would run back and forth trying not to get hit,” he recalled.
Callahan has been knocking the ball around parks for many years since. In her varsity debut last season, Callahan hit .426 with an .843 slugging percentage, leading the Wildcats with 49 hits and 39 RBIs and ranking second with nine home runs, and she was named to the all-conference first team in the North Suburban. She struck out just 16 times in 134 at-bats.
Callahan, who is hitting .512 with six home runs and 25 RBIs for Libertyville (17-8, 8-2) this season, wants to play in college like her father. She has received a lot of interest already.
“As I grew up, I started climbing the ladder with teams and organizations which would help me get there,” she said. “I just kept on improving and improving and climbing and showing potential.
“I’m grateful ACC and SEC schools have invited me to camps and sent me mailers. It’s always been a dream to play at the college level. It’s going to be fun to play it out.”
Callahan said she realized when she was 12 that she had a future in the sport.
“I would say I’m pretty driven,” she said. “I have my goals and try to do everything I can to reach them.”
Callahan, who scored a 33 on the ACT and has a 4.3 GPA while taking honors and Advanced Placement classes, is looking forward to Sept. 1. That’s when college softball programs can offer scholarships to juniors, per NCAA rules.
“I don’t keep a calendar, but that date has been in my head the past few years,” she said.
More Top Picks Best Motion Control Shoes With Arch Support
Libertyville coach Sean Ferrell said Callahan has all the physical and mental tools.
“I’m looking forward to what she does at the end of the season and for the next two years,” Ferrell said. “She has a bright future. She has a strong desire to play at the next level. We want her to enjoy this experience, have fun with it and try not to be perfect. … The future will take care of itself. She does a great job in the classroom, which will open up a lot of doors for her.”
Callahan, who bats first in the lineup, opens doors for the Wildcats.
“She really makes our offense go,” Ferrell said. “She’s really a tough out and competes every at-bat. She stands over the plate and is a great two-strike hitter. She made a lot of commitments to increasing her strength outside of softball.”
Callahan, who participates in Libertyville’s Med Cats club for students interested in the health care field, said she worked diligently to avoid a sophomore slump.
“I’m really happy with my consistency,” she said. “I worked really hard in the offseason, just trying to be consistent and hit for power and average. I’m a very analytical person. I think a lot. On the field, I try to sit back and let my body do what it knows it can do. It’s a good mix.
“I like to have fun and play the game I love, but I’m very focused in business time on the field.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.