Early on, youth coaches identified Hannah Pikus as a pitcher.
But the Evergreen Park junior’s career hit a speed bump in middle school.
“I started off pitching in 8U because the coaches put me there,” Pikus said with a laugh after an 11-4 win against Shepard on April 7. “I’ve grown to like it. I know eyes are on me. I’ve grown to take that weight (and enjoy it).”
By her 10U season, she felt stronger and more confident than ever.
As an eighth-grader, though, her pitching journey took a hit. She broke her right (throwing) arm in an accident at a volleyball camp over the summer, causing her to miss her entire middle-school season.
“It was my wrist. I moved my growth plate,” Pikus said. “It was everything. I broke it in June and was out well into the fall.”
Ever since, she’s been working hard to get back to normal and keep improving as a pitcher and softball player.
“I didn’t pitch that year at all, freshman year I tried and last year was a little rough,” Pikus said. “This year, I’m starting off strong and hopefully I’ll keep getting stronger. It’s tough because you hadn’t done it for so long. I knew I was going to get my speed back and I’ll be fine. I’m back.”
Against Shepard, Pikus also navigated past some adversity. The Astros scored twice in the first inning, aided by a couple errors by the Mustangs.
But Pikus moved on. Cruising the rest of the way, she allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
“I know the next inning the girls will come out and make those plays,” Pikus said. “They’ll bounce back. They won’t get in their own heads. I’m not scared to throw strikes. If the batter hits them, I have my fielders behind me.”
Pikus added a hit, an RBI and a run.
Sophomores Molly Goyke (three hits, three runs), Layne Schillo (double, three RBIs) and Addison Mrskos (two runs), freshman Shelby Izzo (double, run, RBI) and juniors Grace Fontaine (double, two RBIs) and Maggie Troglia (two hits, RBI) were all major contributors for the Mustangs.
Pikus, Schillo, Fontaine and Izzo all pitch for Evergreen Park.
Coach Michelle Vucsko said Pikus is a major part of the team’s pitching plan.
“Hannah is stone cold out there. That’s what makes her so good,” Vucsko said. “She just gets in there and does her job. She hits spots and mixes speeds. She doesn’t let what happens on the field, offensively or defensively, faze her.”
Junior Emma Gelecke (double, run) and seniors Meghan Potenza (hit, run, RBI, stolen base) and Anamarie Solorio (two runs) led Shepard.
Coach Bridget McDermott, a Shepard graduate, is in her second year coaching back at her alma mater after a standout college career at St. Francis.
The Astros are still looking to put things together through the early going, but McDermott said she likes what she’s seen from the team.
“We’re a good-hitting team with a lot of strength throughout the lineup,” McDermott said. “Our infielders can play anywhere, too. We’re still trying to work together, find each other and work with one another. We can hit the crap out of the ball. We’ve got to defend, too.”