By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
When Lizzie Sedakis was playing t-ball at age 5, her father gave her some advice.
Dave Sedakis was not a baseball player in his high school days, but his hitting suggestions resonate with her today.
“My dad taught me how to hit,” Lizzie said. “He taught me three points of my swing: watch the ball, hands to ball and have fun. It was very simple for me then and it has stuck with me now.”
It was back then that she picked up the nickname Longball Lizzie.
Last year, the Chicago Christian shortstop was named to the Class 2A All-State Softball team by the Illinois Coaches Association, after hitting .763 with 14 home runs, 15 doubles, six triples and 55 RBI in 22 games.
She parlayed her hitting talents into a scholarship to Loyola Chicago and has continued to hit the ball hard. That is, whenever opponents pitch to her.
Heading into this week’s action, she was hitting .836 with 10 homers and 42 RBI. According to the IHSA record book, the best batting average in a season for a softball player with 60 or more at-bats is Emily Crompton, who hit .768 in 2018 for Christ our Rock Lutheran in Centralia.
Sedakis’ .763 average in 2022 was not recorded in the IHSA books. It would rank second all-time.
Opponents sometimes shy away from giving her anything too good to hit.
“Some days I’ll go 0-for-0 and walk four times,” she said. “That’s frustrating. I’m too eager to hit.
“I just try to steal and make up for it.”
The Chicago Ridge resident plays travel ball with the New Lenox Lightning. Her coach for the Lightning is Jim Abbott, whose daughter is Alicia Abbott — the head softball coach at Loyola.
The Ramblers entered the week with a 21-21 mark. Their roster includes Marist grad Sierra Sass, a freshman outfielder.
Sedakis’ favorite hit of her career came on April 24 in a home game against Elmwood Park. She hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th inning for a 6-4 win.
“That was pretty fun,” she said. “It was a long game, and we were getting tired. I like getting the team hyped like that.”
Big win for Mustangs
The Evergreen Park softball team came up with a 4-3 victory over defending Class 3A state champion Lemont on April 29. Lily Strand fired the win and Dora Cihocki hit a two-run homer.
Aubrey Walczak had a bunt single to drive in a run for the Mustangs.
Wild, wild CCL
The Chicago Catholic League baseball race is competitive, as usual.
Heading into this week’s action in the Blue, Brother Rice had a 10-1 mark in the league, while Providence was 9-2, St. Rita 8-3, St. Laurence 6-3, Loyola 5-6, Mount Carmel 4-6 and Marmion 2-7.
Brother Rice’s lone loss was to Leo in a CCL crossover on March 27. Providence has lost to the Crusaders and St. Rita.