Swinging on the first pitch she saw in the first inning, Evergreen Park freshman Shelby Izzo was thinking double.
Maybe a home run, but she didn’t think she got all of it.
Izzo was wrong.
Her two-run homer to right center was one of the highlights as host Evergreen Park defeated Eisenhower 11-1 in six innings on May 6 in the South Suburban Red.
“First pitch, it was there and I hit it,” Izzo said. “Feeling the pop off the bat and seeing the height of it, I thought it’d hit the fence but it went over. As a freshman, I’m not really feeling the nerves. I’m just calm.”
Izzo finished with two hits, including a double, two RBIs and two runs.
Sophomore Layne Schillo threw a no-hitter, giving up a run on four walks, a hit batter and nine strikeouts.
Also starring for the Mustangs were junior Hannah Pikus (two hits, two runs, two RBIs), sophomore Addison Mrskos (two runs, two RBIs) and senior Annie Olson (two runs).
Izzo has made an immediate impact for the Mustangs, who ended last week at 22-7 overall and first in the SSC Red at 14-2, a half-game ahead of Richards (16-9, 13-2).
She’s been a middle-of-the-order hitter, standout defensive second baseman and consistent starter in the circle all season.
But while she’s new to high-school softball, she’s quite familiar with her teammates.
“I’ve been coming to camps and everything for a while here,” Izzo said. “It was my hope to come onto the varsity, so I was pretty excited to make it. I played with almost all the girls growing up, so the season’s going pretty well.”
Izzo’s two-run blast in the first put EP up 2-0. It was her third homer of the season.
Coach Michelle Vucsko has never been wary about letting a freshman play for the varsity.
“We’re looking for potential,” Vucsko said. “Sometimes, it doesn’t happen right away. Obviously for Shelby, it has. We see the raw talent and know she’ll be part of our future. We want them to be part of the varsity from the very beginning.”
Izzo also plays volleyball and was on the JV team as a freshman.
Softball has always been her favorite, though, going back to when she started playing when she was just 4 years old.
She has settled in quickly playing second base alongside shortstop Mrskos as a double-play combo.
“I haven’t played it a lot since I was younger … it wasn’t difficult but I had to learn new stuff,” Izzo said. “I’ll play anywhere. I’m feeling really good at the plate. My mechanics have been good.”
Izzo, Schillo, Pikus and junior Grace Fontaine round out a deep pitching staff for Vucsko.
Schillo has seen an uptick in her pitch speed as she hit the weight room over the offseason. She also takes a strength and conditioning class at school.
She kept Eisenhower guessing from the first pitch on.
“Layne keeps growing and getting better,” Vucsko said. “She’s poised, controlled and gotten better every game. She has good speed and good spin.”
Schillo said she’s feeling strong each time out.
“It’s more confidence how I’m pitching,” Schillo said. “I’m focusing on pitching more. The strength and conditioning class has helped me a lot. I’ve gotten faster (throwing) than last year. I can feel it.”