Are we talking kid stuff?
Hardly.
South Elgin shortstop Ava Lazare is just a freshman, but she’s playing a challenging position with the poise of a veteran for the Upstate Eight Conference leaders.
And recently, Lazare has been adding plenty of pop at the plate as well. With three home runs in her last three games, it’s pretty obvious Lazare can play.
Has anything triggered the power surge?
“I haven’t been doing anything much,” she said. “I’m just like chillin’ — having the right mental game and just being ready.”
Has she always hit for power?
“My whole life,” Lazare said a matter-of-factly.
Lazare definitely set the tone Thursday, batting third in the bottom of the first inning and driving the ball over the fence in center field for a two-run homer to spark the Storm to an 11-5 Upstate Eight win over visiting Larkin.
She added a single and triple to lead an 11-hit attack for South Elgin (17-4, 10-0).
“Ava has been amazing,” Storm coach Brad Reynard said. “She plays far and above her years, that’s for sure.”
A trio of juniors in center fielder Emma Bell, first baseman Liv Miller and second baseman Millie Viruet added two hits apiece for South Elgin.
Junior infielder Ali Herrick, who started at third base and finished at first, came through with an RBI double and a two-run homer to help Larkin (10-12, 5-5) force a 5-5 tie.
South Elgin put it away, though, with a five-run sixth.
“We were dinged up a little bit,” Reynard said. “It was not our normal lineup, but we did enough to pull away.”
Senior reserves Miley Faltisco and Camryn Antor drew the starts at third base and right field, respectively, on senior day for South Elgin.
Junior right-hander Kaidence Rumachik
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went the distance, striking out nine and scattering seven hits and two walks to pick up the pitching win.“Kaidence battled through some stuff,” Reynard said. “She got hit in the knee with a ball in warmups and we had the trainers out here icing it, but she’s just a gamer.
“Then she took a ball off her pitching hand in the game, but she’s like, ‘Give me the ball and I’ll finish it.’”
Speaking of toughness, Lazare also plays basketball and flag football. She credited her brother Anthony, who’s three years older than her, and their father, Michael, with getting her started back in T-ball. She then moved to park district softball, followed by travel.
Lazare, who now plays for Elk Grove-based Heat Premier, is one of two freshmen on South Elgin’s varsity along with catcher Charlotte Rzenno.
“Everyone has been super supportive and encouraging and that helps,” Lazare said. “I also played travel ball with Charlotte. Playing high school ball is fun since you’re in school with everyone.”
Reynard saw Lazare’s early role as a varsity contributor coming.
“Ava attended our summer camp for four or five years,” he said. “I knew she was going to play either third base or short for us.”
Viruet can handle shortstop as well but has settled in at second base.
“It just made sense,” Reynard said. “Millie is so good at second and steals so many runs for us over there because of her range. And her softball IQ is through the roof.
“Ava’s got a bit better arm and Millie a bit better range. It fits nicely with those two up the middle. They’ve turned into a really nice combination for us.”
Lazare and Rzenno are holding their own at the plate, tied with Miller for the team lead with four home runs. Lazare, who’s hitting .510, leads with 25 RBIs. Rzenno and Miller each have 24.
“(Lazare) started out hitting sixth or seventh but should be somewhere near the top,” Reynard said. “We have options. The good thing is, Ava hits it wherever she’s at.”