Neuqua Valley senior Izzy Ernest smiled knowingly as sophomore catcher Krista Waldusky recalled what happened on opening day in March.
“It was my first game on varsity,” Waldusky said. “I was so nervous. I played a horrible game. I think I had 12 passed balls. It was four in the book, but there were 12 balls I should have gotten, which is a pretty big number.”
It was a debut worth forgetting, but Waldusky will always remember how Ernest comforted her afterward.
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“I was really down on myself after that, and Izzy was the one who really helped me pick it up,” Waldusky said. “She saw that wasn’t the real me behind the plate, and she was able to help me get through that tough patch, and here I am.”
Hearing that, Ernest perked up.
“Look at where she is now,” Ernest said. “Killing it behind the plate.”
Indeed, Waldusky was flawless with her receiving on Monday and also got the job done at the plate. Her RBI double off Waubonsie Valley ace Hannah Laub in the first inning drove in Ernest, who had tripled, to give the host Wildcats an early lead in an eventual 2-1 win in the DuPage Valley Conference quarterfinals.
Fourth-seeded Neuqua Valley (13-11), which will play top-seeded host Naperville North (18-6) in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, has relied heavily on Ernest for leadership. The three-year starter is hitting .453 with a .603 on-base percentage and playing solid defense at third base while mentoring a young roster that has just two other seniors.
“I think (her role) is stepping up and helping out all of the underclassmen,” Ernest said. “This is Krista’s first year on varsity, so I’m kind of walking her through, like this is how you start it, with energy.”
The Wildcats don’t have a star-studded roster like they had the past two seasons, when they won back-to-back DVC titles and reached two sectional finals. But they have a gem in Ernest, the last mainstay from that group.
“She’s incredibly important,” Waldusky said. “I’ve only known Izzy for about two to three months. I heard about her from being on JV last year, but she’s just an absolute joy to have around. Whenever you see her, she brightens up your day. Not only has she been a great mentor, she’s always somebody that you look up to.”
Neuqua Valley coach Dani Asquini has leaned on Ernest’s experience and personality to get through an up-and-down season, which included a 2-6 start.
“She just knows the game of softball really well,” Asquini said. “So her talk in the dugout and on the field is nice and comforting to the other girls who are newer and are still trying to get used to where is this ball going, what am I doing.”
Ernest always seems to know what she’s doing, as she demonstrated in ripping her triple off fellow lefty Laub. The ball sailed over the right fielder’s head and landed near the fence.
“I’ve played with Hannah in the past,” Ernest said. “She’s a great pitcher, and she’s a sweetheart. I love her to death. It’s always a tough battle with her, so I took the first pitch, which was a fastball, to get my timing. The next one ended up being a change-up, and I just decided to wait back and stay through, and that’s what got it out there.”
Laub allowed only one earned run, walked one and struck out 11, but Neuqua Valley sophomore Ava Drehs was nearly as good, walking one and fanning nine in a complete game. Performances like that from younger teammates get Ernest excited.
“They’re all so sweet, and they’re all great ballplayers,” Ernest said. “They’re younger, yes, but they’re so mature, and I’m going to miss them when I’m gone.”
The Wildcats will miss Ernest, who will not play college softball. She is planning to attend Michigan State and major in environmental science with the goal of becoming a meteorologist.
To those in Ernest’s orbit, the world is usually sunny.
“Izzy always looks for the bright spots,” Waldusky said. “If you strike out one game, it’s hard not to let it affect you next game, but she’s always there to pick you up. She’s the ultimate team player.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.