Stevenson junior outfielder Alyssa Shimanski can laugh about it now.
But she’ll be the first to say there was nothing funny about being thrown into the fire during her freshman season, when then-coach India Steward needed a shortstop and tapped Shimanski for the role.
“It was pretty tough, especially since I had never played shortstop seriously,” Shimanski said. “I didn’t know the technique and wasn’t confident in myself.”
Shimanski recalls making five errors during a lopsided loss to Taft.
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“It was so bad at one point that I was shaking every time when I was on the field,” she said. “I used to say, ‘Please don’t hit the ball to me. Please don’t hit to me.’ I didn’t want to play the position and wondered why I was there.”
But those days are long gone. Freshman shortstop Jasmine Lucero’s arrival last season not only freed Shimanski to move back to the outfield, where she’s most comfortable, but also set the stage for her to become one of the best players in Lake County.
Batting at the top of the order, Shimanski hit .461 with 10 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 40 runs scored and 18 stolen bases last season as the Patriots made a push for second place behind North Suburban Conference champion Mundelein and won a Class 4A regional title.
“Her sophomore season went really well,” Stevenson coach Vera Pflugradt said. “She had a very good average and on-base percentage and showed her foot speed on the bases. She was pretty likely to score when she got on base.”
Shimanski, who remains in the leadoff spot and the outfield for Stevenson (5-2), was hitting .370 with a .519 slugging percentage, 10 runs scored and four stolen bases while playing strong defense through seven games this season.
“Alyssa is a five-tool player who can hit for power and average, has speed, has a good glove and is consistent,” Pflugradt said. “We can always count on her to do well.”
Shimanski said she put in more work in the weight room during the offseason to continue to improve.
“I focused more on getting into the gym and gaining muscle to help me with hitting, defense and other aspects,” she said. “It really helped my bat a lot, especially with my power. I’m still focusing on contact hitting, placing the ball and timely hitting.”
Shimanski has impressed teammate Aubrey Jepson, a senior pitcher/first baseman and Stony Brook commit.
“Alyssa is an incredibly talented player and a great teammate who gives her all on and off the field,” Jepson said. “She is one of the hardest-working players I know, and it really shows.”
Stevenson senior catcher/third baseman Sophia Becker, a Case Western Reserve commit, agreed Shimanski is an elite player but said she provides so much more for the Patriots.
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“I believe her greatest contribution to the team is her leadership and passion for the game,” Becker said. “Whether it’s offering insight on the opposing pitcher or reassuring her teammates after an error, Alyssa always goes out of her way to uplift others.”
Shimanski believes she has learned a valuable lesson.
“Softball definitely helped me be better mentally and prepare myself to go to college,” she said. “Being stronger and not being so aggravated so quickly and not getting down on myself, I learned that from softball.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.