Ashley Pape entered high school with an ambitious goal in mind.
Fulfilling it required Pape to not only produce for Neuqua Valley from the get-go but also remain healthy enough to play. But after an impressive freshman season, she suffered a biceps strain in early May 2025.
“My goal in my whole high school career was to get all-state all four years,” Pape said. “Obviously, with my sophomore year getting cut short, I couldn’t conquer that.
“But I got it my freshman year, so I’m hoping to get it my junior and my senior year.”
Pape hit a team-high .387 with 21 RBIs during her freshman season, when she eventually batted cleanup for the Wildcats, and was a Class 4A all-state third-team selection by the Illinois Softball Coaches Association.
Pape was even better as a sophomore. Through 18 games, she batted .410 with two home runs, 21 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Then her season came to a halt in an instant.
“We were in the Bradley Bourbonnais Tournament, and I was up to bat,” she said. “I went to swing to hit the ball, and my bicep popped.
“It was very painful, especially in the moment. I continued the game, but then the next day I couldn’t play.”
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An MRI revealed a biceps strain in Pape’s right, non-throwing arm.
“That isn’t too serious, but I was out the rest of the season,” she said. “After that, I did a bunch of physical therapy. I was there like three times a week. So the whole summer was just dedicated to physical therapy.”
By the end of the summer, Pape had recovered and resumed playing travel ball. She’s ready to pick up where she left off last season.
“I’m excited to be back,” she said.
Pape’s teammates are excited too.
“When she came in her freshman year, she was already a huge contributor, and then sophomore year she got better,” Neuqua Valley senior shortstop Nalia Clifford said. “So I expect her to be even better this year and continue to grow in that pattern.”
With just 18 players in the program, the defending DuPage Valley Conference co-champion Wildcats (17-15) will be depending heavily on Pape for her bat and her arm in the outfield. They keenly felt her loss after she suffered the injury. All three of their DVC losses came while she was sidelined.
“It was huge,” Clifford said. “Every team we faced, I thought, ‘Oh, I think we can take them, but Ashley’s out, so that kind of changes things.’
“I’m really excited to have her back, and I’m definitely thinking about that when comparing this year to last year. I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
The Wildcats should be good up the middle with the Wisconsin-bound Clifford and Pape, who are the team’s top two hitters and fielders. They bring talent and experience, which will be vital for first-year co-coaches Samantha Rochowicz and Jamine Turner.
“We have two head coaches this year, and she’s stepped up a lot and has been helping us out,” Rochowicz said. “She’s willing to help us out with anything we need.
“She’s helping me trying to get some girls to try out, and she’s helping with coaching some girls too.”
Turner also likes what he’s seen from Pape.
“She has definitely made a strong comeback,” Turner said. “Her arm is very strong throwing from center field to home plate, so we’re expecting a lot from Ashley this year.”
While Pape is best known for her hitting, she can flash the leather too. She had 55 putouts and five assists as a freshman and handled 14 chances without an error last season.
“I like hitting better because it’s so much fun, but I also like defense,” Pape said. “I love chasing down balls. I’ve never robbed a home run, so that’s my goal this year.”
Pape aspires to play softball at the Division I level. Her injury has hampered her recruiting, but she’s hoping college coaches will soon notice her sound fundamentals.
“I used to play on Naperville Diamonds, and they really work on mechanics,” Pape said. “I started there when I was younger, and ever since then they really helped me with mechanics.
“So now that makes me into the player I am today. I work on fundamentals. I still do the little things even though I’m successful.”
That attention to detail will help Pape even after her playing career ends. She wants to be a high school physical education teacher and softball coach.
Clifford said Pape has the leadership qualities required for those jobs.
“Absolutely,” Clifford said. “She’s got great energy. The girls love her. I love her. So she’s definitely a natural leader, and then she’s also stepping into more of a purposeful role.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
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