Decisions, decisions, decisions.
South Elgin junior Liv Miller knows the time is coming, sooner or later, when she will likely have to choose between her two loves in the sports world — basketball and softball.
It will no doubt be a monumental dilemma for the 6-foot Miller.
She’s a hard-hitting first baseman for the Storm in softball and a strong rebounder and defensive presence in basketball. She could have next-level opportunities in either of those two sports.
“I wouldn’t say I have a first choice,” Miller said. “I love playing both. Right now, I am mostly playing it by ear waiting to see what offers I get, hopefully in both.
“It’s going to be really, really hard to choose one of them if I need to, but I know that eventually, I’ll be able to make the right choice. So I’m waiting for wherever it takes me.”
That was the softball field where Miller launched three straight rocket shots late in the game Tuesday that went for a two-run homer, a double and an RBI single in South Elgin’s 15-7 Upstate Eight Conference victory over visiting West Aurora.
The Storm (8-2, 3-0) took advantage of a strong wind blowing out, hitting four two-run homers. Freshman catcher Charlotte Rzenno and freshman shortstop Ava Lazare joined Miller in the barrage against the Blackhawks (3-7, 1-1).
Rzenno hit two pitches over the fence, giving her a team-high four homers for the season. She then added a fifth RBI on a fielder’s choice groundout, boosting that team-best total to 16.
It was Miller’s second homer and first for Lazare. Junior center fielder Emma Bell added three hits.
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“That’s not us,” South Elgin coach Brad Reynard said of power surge. “But when the wind is blowing out here it can happen. When we came up here, I said, ‘It’s going to be a good day to hit.’
“We preach on days like that, ‘First team to 20 (wins).’ And we almost got there.”
The Blackhawks led 1-0 and rallied to force 4-4 and 7-7 ties before junior pitcher Jenna Sheehan settled down for South Elgin and finished strong with three shutout innings.
“She’s been effectively wild through the first part of the season,” Reynard said of Sheehan allowing four walks and a hit batter. “It shows a lot about her character, just fighting through it. She became a one-pitch pitcher (Tuesday) as we threw mostly fastballs the last five innings.
“She can do a lot of things with just her fastball.”
Junior catcher Macie Spenny came through with a two-run double for West Auora, while junior shortstop Bella Marzullo and sophomore right fielder Makayla Speedy had two hits apiece.
Miller bounced back from a slow start after grounding out in each of the first two innings from her cleanup spot in the order.
“She didn’t look great at the beginning, so she made some adjustments and we do that as a team as well,” Reynard said. “The last three at-bats she was locked in.
“She’s shown a little pop with the homers, but she’s been hitting lasers all over the place.”
Miller played largely a reserve role last season but still hit .341 with six doubles and 21 RBIs as the Storm reached the sectional final.
“Coming in as a younger player, I understood that,” said Miller, who plays AAU basketball but not travel softball.
The biggest adjustment Tuesday was getting acclimated to the umpire’s strike zone.
“And once I was able to keep my head on the ball, I was able to turn my hips and execute like I needed to,” Miller said.
Her line drive to left-center was a rope, never gaining or losing altitude until it cleared the fence.
“I don’t know if y’all heard me grunt back there,” Miller said. “I had to put a little grunt into it.”