This was no easy job, especially for a freshman.
Yorkville coach Jory Regnier wasn’t sure at the start of the season who would settle in to take on the challenge of catching her returning ace, Miami of Ohio recruit Madi Reeves.
Fortunately for the Foxes, it didn’t take long to find out.
Kayla Kersting was up to the task of replacing graduated Avery Nehring, who had caught the hard-throwing Reeves the previous two seasons.
“Kayla and I clicked almost as soon as we stepped on the field for the first time,” Reeves said. “She knows how to do everything right and she’s just strong back there. She saves my behind plenty of times in games I need it like this.”
Times like Wednesday’s game, a 6-1 Southwest Prairie Conference victory for Yorkville over visiting West Aurora.
Reeves (17-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, broken up by a ground single up the middle from sophomore shortstop Sara Tarr.
Ionicca Rivera then broke up the shutout, leading off the seventh with a home run for the Blackhawks (7-15, 3-9).
“I wasn’t going to let it get to me, just a few outs from the win,” Reeves said.
She finished with a flourish, striking out the final three batters. It gave her 17 for the game and boosted her school-record career total to 827.
“If we go far enough (in the playoffs), maybe I can get there,” Reeve said. “But I think I’ll get to at least 900.
“Nothing is stronger than the bond that a pitcher and catcher have. If something is going on, I just have to focus on her and she’ll get me through it.”
Last season, Reeves broke the previous program strikeout record of 427, set in 2007 by Mallory Bieritz. Reeves likely would have topped 1,000 by now if her freshman season hadn’t been wiped out due to the pandemic.
Yorkville (25-1, 13-0) clinched a share of the conference title with three league games remaining and six overall. Oswego and Minooka have three losses apiece.
Reeves’ batterymate also had her back on offense, hitting RBI doubles during two-run rallies in the third and fifth innings. Katlyn Schraeder’s double highlighted a two-run fourth.
It was the 17th straight win for the Foxes, who haven’t lost to a team from Illinois this spring. Their only setback came to a team from Alabama on an early season trip.
Despite the sterling record, Reeves said, “I think this team, especially to other people, is really underestimated. I think we execute what we need to, enough to get some cushion runs so we aren’t stressed out.”
The same goes for her connection with Kersting, who also plays volleyball and basketball.
It did raise Regnier’s level of concern because the duo didn’t begin working together until late in the offseason after Kersting finished basketball.
Not to worry. They’ve become fast friends.
“Right from the get-go, even when we were going through tryouts, you could see she had that ability to settle in,'” Regnier said of Kersting. “She’s done a phenomenal job behind the plate, and obviously has also done a great job of hitting, too.”
Kersting is batting .480 with 11 stolen bases, four home runs and 27 RBIs.
While Kersting said Reeves is the fastest pitcher she has caught, dealing with the movement on her pitches is a bigger challenge.
“You can time it out after a while and adjust to the speed,” Kersting said. “The movement is harder. You just have to get used to it.”
Reeves said she has been getting her rise ball “dialed in a lot more. I’m hitting my spots and getting ahead in the count — just messing with the hitters’ minds sometimes.”
Regnier has marveled at their connection.
“They hang out together,” she said. “It’s a true friendship. I think it’s rare that a senior comes in and trusts a freshman that much. But they definitely have a bond.”