For Yorkville’s Ellie Alvarez, the work never stops. And it shows.
The senior shortstop credited an extra effort on her hitting, especially in the past week, for helping her get ready for what she hopes is another long playoff push by the Foxes.
“Being a senior, we got out of school earlier last Tuesday and we graduated Friday,” Alvarez said. “I got up early Tuesday and hit. Then later in the day, I was just bored, so I went out and hit again.
“I’m excited for this year. I think we have a chance to make it further than we did last year. We have the heart and the skill, so I think it could be a good run.”
Alvarez was good to go Tuesday, highlighting a 10-run first inning with her 10th home run as Yorkville rolled to an 11-0 victory over Geneva in a Class 4A Oswego East Regional semifinal.
The top-seeded Foxes (27-5) took care of business against 16th-seeded Geneva (2-23) as senior pitcher Madi Reeves threw a perfect game with 10 strikeouts in five innings.
Last season, Yorkville reached the supersectional before losing to Southwest Prairie Conference rival Minooka.
Alvarez, a fourth-year varsity player who committed to NCAA Division I Bellarmine in Nashville nearly a year ago, has been on a good run this season.
She’s hitting .473 with 31 RBIs and a .934 slugging percentage.
“She’s a kid who’s going to give her all — all the time,” Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said. “And she’s a kid who every year has just gotten better and better and better.
“She does the little things to get better. She shows up to the weight room, shows up for strength and conditioning, shows up for our team stuff. She’s a leader and just that type of kid you want on your field.”
Bellarmine struggled this season with a 10-41 record.
“They just went from Division II to D-I, so there’s room for growth,” Alvarez said. “I’m excited. This is only their second year in D-I.
“I love that area. My decision was between them and Green Bay, up north or down south. I have family in Tennessee. That helped. It just felt like a great fit.”
Reeves (17-3) also was in top form Tuesday, retiring 15 straight batters and allowing just two balls hit out of the infield, both by freshman Kaitlyn Sprague.
Regnier said there was no doubt Reeves, who recently committed to Miami of Ohio, would be in the circle.
“This is playoff season and we know anything can happen,” Regnier said. “We’ve been on both sides of it and we’re bringing our best lineup.
“That was the goal. Put her out there, let her pitch her game, get some reps in. We won’t play again until Friday, so it was good she got to pitch a whole game.”
Tuesday’s game was moved up to a 4 p.m. start, allowing Wednesday’s semifinal to be moved up a day to avoid predicted inclement weather.
Ninth-seeded Plainfield North upset fifth-seeded Oswego East 4-3.
Across town at the Oswego Regional, the host Panthers rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat Wheaton North 7-6 and West Aurora knocked off Waubonsie Valley 9-1.
Alvarez, meanwhile, cleared the bases in her second at-bat of the first inning for Yorkville, driving the ball nearly to the fence in left field with the bases loaded. It was misplayed for a three-run error.
She credits being more dedicated to her work in the weight room with improving her strength and helping her to double her total of home runs from last season.
“I’ve just been working harder,” Alvarez said. “Hitting the weight room and doing it a lot more seriously.”
It never stops.