When Naperville North junior catcher Reese Pedersen makes a mound visit, a laugh is inevitable.
That’s by design.
“Those are my favorite parts of games,” Pedersen said. “If (a pitcher) is struggling, I won’t even talk about anything softball-related. I’ll tell a joke to cheer them up, get them out of their head and back in the game.”
That’s a welcome change for Naperville North senior pitcher Gabi Chmiel.
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“Reese handles timeouts with me differently than some catchers would,” Chmiel said. “She has given me a different perspective, and it’s just amazing. Instead of talking about pitching, she just tries to make me smile. She immediately makes me laugh and says a little inside joke.
“It’s such a big thing for me because I can get too zoned in and take it too seriously. I’m just so grateful to have her.”
For Pedersen, a third-year varsity player for the Huskies (6-21), that’s right in line with her quick-witted personality.
“She’s always good for a laugh,” Naperville North coach Nick Lago said. “She’s always making faces. If there’s a questionable call in the box, she’ll turn around and stick her tongue out or do something funny like that.”
Pedersen has good reason to keep it light. At the plate, she had more extra-base hits than strikeouts for much of the season, and she’s batting .312 with an .860 OPS. Most of all, Pedersen relishes her role as field general behind the plate.
“I love getting to see the whole field and talk to everyone,” she said. “It’s super important to be the leader, keep the energy there and get everyone hyped.”
For Lago, Pedersen’s relentless energy is invaluable.
“I don’t really ever see her down on herself,” Lago said. “She comes ready to play every day. She calls out situations. She lets the girls know, ‘Hey, we’ve got to look for a bunt,’ or different things the individual fielders might not think about. Reese is constantly cataloging scenarios for you.
“And we only get three timeouts in the game, but the catcher can go out unlimited times. I always know she’s going to say the right thing and get our pitcher back in the circle mentally. You can’t put a value on that.”
Cracking jokes is just one facet of Pedersen’s game.
“Reese likes to have fun, but she also stays competitive out there,” Chmiel said. “Reese is one of the best teammates I’ve gotten the opportunity to play with. She’s like the kind of teammate who makes everyone around her better. She really pushes me and pushes everyone else too.”
Lago similarly describes Pedersen as an ultracompetitive player who constantly works to improve.
“She always asks to do a little extra,” Lago said. “She’s always trying to get better and sharpen her game as much as she can.”
Pedersen routinely sneaks in extra sessions in the batting cage and in the gym. Her time in the gym is often alongside her older brother Josh, a Bowling Green State commit who was the 2025 Naperville Sun Boys Soccer Player of the Year. In fact, Pedersen is the youngest of three athletes — her oldest brother, Christian, played baseball.
“My brothers would always pressure me and say how they were better than me,” Pedersen said. “That only gave me more motivation to be better than them.”
Observing her brothers has shaped Pedersen’s work ethic.
“(Josh) always works super hard,” she said. “He goes to the park right by our house and works on his soccer skills every day. If I can just work as hard as him, my goals will be achieved.”
One of Pedersen’s goals is playing college softball.
“I’m sure I want to play in college, but I’m just not sure at what level right now,” she said. “My goals now are just to take it day by day, see what could happen and listen to my coaches.”
Those coaches believe in Pedersen.
“Reese is well on her way,” Lago said. “If she wants to play college ball, I certainly feel like there’s going to be a lucky school to have her. Whatever she sets as her goals, I have no doubt that she’s going to accomplish them.”
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Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.