Mum’s the word for Oswego East’s Katie Maday.
A softspoken senior middle infielder who is committed to NCAA Division III Carroll, Maday is in her third varsity season for the Wolves. And she continues to let her bat do the talking.
“I try to be smarter in the batter’s box and I just try to swing at whatever is close — just try to move her along,” Maday said, referring to Olivia Owles, the Wolves’ leadoff hitter.
“I think mainly that’s my job.”
So far, it has worked for a two-time all-conference selection who posted batting averages of .366 and .416 with 30 and 42 hits, respectively. Last season, she was named third team all-state.
Maday, who has a .467 on-base percentage this spring, was at it again Thursday.
She reached base in three of four plate appearances with two singles and a walk, scored twice and drove in a run for host Oswego East in an 11-6 setback to Plainfield Central in a Southwest Prairie Conference crossover.
It was the first loss of the season for the Wolves (7-1, 0-1), whose winning streak matched their best start to a season since 2018.
Plainfield Central (8-2) and Oswego East were tied 6-6 after three innings. But DuPage recruit Kaylynn Howe, a senior right-handed pitcher, settled down for the Wildcats. She stranded six runners and blanked the Wolves over the final five innings.
“I think we struggled to find our groove after a little bit,” Oswego East coach Sarah Davies-Dymanus
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said.Sophia Anderson, a sophomore right-hander who relieved starter Addyson Dunn after three innings, took the loss.
Junior shortstop Katie Silva came through with a two-run double and senior third baseman Carleigh Gregory also doubled for Oswego East, which had seven hits and four batters reach on errors, giving the Wolves plenty of opportunities.
“This is the first time we’ve really been hit hard,” Davies-Dymanus said of Plainfield Central finishing with 12 hits. “I’m still feeling really good. I think we were kind of thrown out of sorts during warmups, so I’m just gonna chalk it up and try again tomorrow.”
During pregame warmups, the Wolves lost one of their better players — junior catcher/outfielder Danielle Stone — to a possible concussion.
Plainfield Central’s pitcher was warming up in front of the visitors’ dugout at the same time, and one of the throws glanced off the catcher’s glove and hit the unsuspecting Stone in the face.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” Maday said of the loss. “Losing Danielle was tough. She’s one of our better players and usually bats third or fourth.”
Stone is batting .417 in her second year on varsity after earning all-state accolades last fall as the quarterback for Oswego East’s flag football team.
“I’m not worried,” Davies-Dymnanus said. “I’ve seen a lot of good from this team already this season. We’ve played a lot of really good softball.
“We’ll just shake this one off and come back in our next one.”
Maday, who splits time with Silva at second base and shortstop, will no doubt be in the middle of it.
“Versatility pretty much explains it,” Maday said of her game. “I like playing both of them.”
As a sophomore, she also played some outfield.
At the top of the lineup, Owles and Maday fulfill the team’s need for speed. Owles has been clocked as fast as 2.6 seconds going from home to first. Maday is right on her heels at 2.7.
Both have stolen five bases this season, while Maday has 27 for her career.
“She’s really fast,” Davies-Dymanus said of Maday. “That was why we originally put her out there. She’s been a nice, solid presence so far this season.
“She’s very quick, smart. I like versatility. I like having options.”