Aubrie Goudreau knew she’d have a bigger role for Manteno softball this spring and wanted to make sure she was ready.
The prep work seems to have paid off.
The junior is playing shortstop and batting third for the Panthers, who beat Central 10-0 in five innings on April 23 to improve to 12-3. Goudreau singled, tripled, drove in two runs and scored another.
Jaz Manau also had a big day, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Ava Peterson pitched a one-hitter for the win, striking out five and walking one.
Goudreau was a utility player last season as a sophomore. This year, she said, “I knew I had some big shoes to fill with Sydney (Sosnowski graduating) because she was an amazing shortstop.
“But I took lessons and I’ve been going since last winter. I think it’s really helped me improve.”
Panthers coach Josh Carlile appreciates Goudreau’s dedication.
“She’s one of those quiet kids who just goes out and does the work,” Carlile said. “You don’t hear her a ton on the field, but you see everything she does. She just works, works, works, works.”
Goudreau is just one of several Panthers who have been in a groove at the plate.
“We’ve been hitting the ball pretty well for the last few weeks now,” Carlile said. “We’re getting production up and down the lineup. And I think that helps everybody in the lineup because nobody feels like they have to be the one that has to produce all the time.
“So you kind of relax and just go up there and get some good swings. (Goudreau) did, and that was great.”
“It’s been very productive lately,” Goudreau said. “I did go into a little bit of just contact hitting, but now I’m starting to get my power back and it feels great.”
It doesn’t hurt that the weather has taken a turn for the better after a cold, windy start to spring.
“It’s amazing,” Goudreau said. “I absolutely love the heat. I hate the cold. It’s probably the nice weather that started bringing my power back (April 22).”
The Panthers also made some nice defensive plays against Central.
“We’re very scrappy,” Goudreau said. “We’ll get down, dive, everything.”
Manteno has bounced back after going 2-3 over a recent five-game stretch against some quality opponents.
“My hitting has come (along) a lot from those losses,” Goudreau said. “It got me especially working on my pitches that I’m not gonna see that often. … It helped me on those … when I see them here. Especially for this (Central) game with that curve — I was able to time that up.”