Opponents already know that Stevenson’s Ava Potempa is talented in the art of pitching.
But the senior right-hander is crafty off the field too.
“I’m very into anything art,” Potempa said. “I have a nail business with a room in my basement. I’ve done probably 100 different people’s nails. I’ve been doing pretty good. I also paint and do photography, do fake lashes and hair. I like to be creative.”
Potempa thinks those endeavors make her a better pitcher.
“Art has taught me a lot,” she said. “You can be creative yet not perfect. With pitching, not everything can be perfect. When I’m doing nails, I have to relax, and I bring that into pitching with patience and being in the zone.”
Potempa, who has committed to NJCAA power McLennan, is always in the zone when she’s in the circle. Last season, she posted a 16-3 record with a 1.37 ERA and 155 strikeouts and was named the North Suburban Conference pitcher of the year.
Potempa has been even better for the defending conference champion Patriots (7-0, 2-0) under first-year coach Brandon Simmons. She’s 5-0 with a 0.97 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 29 innings.
“Ava’s arm talent is incredible, but her mentality is something I’ve not seen in my 14 years of coaching,” Simmons said. “I’ve never seen a kid with her mentality when she competes and is pitching. She’s fierce on the mound. Moments when she gives up walks, she quickly forgets that and gets right back.
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“She has a completely different way of looking at things than other pitchers. It works for her. She’s extremely good at locating her pitches. She has a filthy change-up and knows how to power her pitches and how to execute. Her mentality separates her from other players.”
Potempa, who led the Patriots to a victory over 2025 Ohio Division II state champion Painesville Riverside in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during spring break, throws a fastball, a change-up, a riseball, a curveball and a screwball.
“In the offseason, I worked more on my off-speed pitch to throw hitters off-balance,” Potempa said. “I worked on getting stronger and hitting my spots. My change-up is a lot better after working a lot on it in the summer.
“I have the confidence in the circle knowing that I can beat any hitter.”
Stevenson senior outfielder Alyssa Shimanski said Potempa brings even more to the field.
“Ava doesn’t just lead with her talent, but also she leads with her energy,” Shimanski said. “She is always the loudest and most positive person on the field and in the dugout, whether that’s dancing with her teammates in the circle or cracking jokes in the dugout. She will always bring the energy and laughs to the field.
“She also works like no other. She is constantly trying to perfect her spins and placement at her pitching facility where she works out every week. She is always looking for ways to improve and always working hard for the team.”
Stevenson junior infielder Jasmine Lucero agreed with Shimanski.
“Beyond her performance, Ava stands out as a leader and motivates her teammates on and off the field,” Lucero said. “Her confidence, composure and encouragement make her the kind of player every team wants. Ava’s confidence spreads to her teammates.”
Potempa has shown resilience too. During the summer before her freshman year, she suffered injuries to her L4 and L5 vertebrae, and her comeback required more than the physical effort of her rehabilitation.
“I had to get over the mental block of pitching with my back injury,” Potempa said. “At one point, I wasn’t sure if I would pitch in high school. I got comfortable knowing that I was OK so I could pitch to my full potential. I felt way more comfortable, got my speed back from the injury, and everything fell into place.”
Potempa said her pitching reached another level after she gave up hitting two years ago and focused on improving in the circle.
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“My junior year, I became more effective with my command and energy, especially the energy I brought onto the field,” she said. “I had more confidence in the circle. I feel like high school junior season and my travel season helped get my name out to a lot of college coaches. I thought I performed well and carried that into this season.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.