St. Laurence senior Maddie Misch isn’t trying to throw harder.
Instead, she’s focused more on her spin and location on her pitches.
The little uptick in speed? Well, that just kind of comes naturally.
Misch’s formula has worked all year for the Vikings, including earning the win on May 9 as host St. Laurence defeated Loyola 13-0 in five innings to clinch a share of the GCAC Red title.
“I’m staying loose on the mound and having complete confidence in myself,” Misch said. “I’ve focused a lot more on my location and spinning (the ball). That’s helped me. It’s not throwing harder. It just comes naturally, and I get more of that pop.”
Misch gave up three hits and a walk with four strikeouts over three innings.
Junior Malia Hernandez pitched the final two innings.
At the plate, juniors Cloe Villa (three RBIs, three doubles), Hannah Marusarz (two runs, two hits) and Kayla Howard (two runs), sophomore Demi Lotus (two RBIs, two hits) and seniors Vanessa Kates (solo home run) and Bella Pratscher (two runs) led the Vikings.
Misch won 11 games and finished with a sub-2.00 earned-run average as a junior as the team finished fourth in Class 3A, the program’s first state trophy.
She’s battled arm issues in the past, but her senior year has pain-free.
“My arm has gotten a lot better this season. I’m focusing on keeping myself healthy,” Misch said. “It’s my senior year. I really want to lock in. We’ve had a really good season. Everyone enjoys each other’s company.”
Misch pitched in and out of trouble, but emerged unscathed with some big strikeouts and clutch defensive plays behind her. Loyola stranded four runners in her three innings.
St. Laurence threw out a runner at home on the back end of a double steal in the second.
With two runners on in the third, Misch induced two groundouts to Lotus at shortstop to get out of the jam.
“I always have full trust in my defense,” Misch said. “I know I can throw a girl an inside fastball, she can roll it over and my shortstop (Demi) has my back. I don’t feel any pressure with runners on because I have the defense and capability to work around batters. We’re always able to get out of a situation.”
Coach Teagan Walsh said she loves what Misch brings to the circle, both with her pure stuff but also her fire.
“Maddie has slipped into that role as the ace,” Walsh said. “She’s got that grit and that competitive edge. She’s been more vocal this year and really taken that leadership role.”
Misch said she especially enjoys working with her battery mate, senior Viviana Chavez.
The duo played travel ball together going back to seventh and eighth grade.
“We’ve always had a super good pitcher-catcher connection,” Misch said. “She brings so much energy behind the plate and helps me stay focused in the game. I can throw her anything and have full trust. It’s good having that deeper connection having her behind the plate.”
St. Laurence and Providence tied for the Red title with 10-2 records.
It was the Vikings’ fourth straight Red title dating back to 2023.
St. Laurence started Red play 9-0 before losing to Montini and Providence, forcing the Vikings to beat Loyola to clinch a title share.
“It’s obviously not the outcome we wanted (sharing the title), but we wanted this all year,” Chavez said. “Tying for the Red title, it works for us. We still got a win.”