Loyola’s Liz Sedakis wasn’t going to let a torn ACL keep her from playing the game that has so much meaning for her.
In the third game of the 2025 college softball season, Sedakis injured her right knee and was forced to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Her return to the diamond this spring was impressive. Starting at second base, the 2023 Chicago Christian graduate appeared in all 52 games for the Ramblers, who finished 28-24 overall and went 18-6 in winning the Atlantic-10 regular-season championship.
“(It was) the feeling of coming back (after) losing the sport I love to play for a season and I came back,” Sedakis said. “I was like, ‘What do I have to lose now?’ I’ve gotten one season taken away from me and now this season was my comeback season.
“Just being able to play freely and enjoy what I have left was so nice to feel.”
The Chicago Ridge resident was rewarded for her perseverance by earning a place on the All-Atlantic-10 second team. Sedakis led Loyola in RBIs this season with 40 while placing second in home runs (four) and total bases (70). Sedakis tied for second in doubles with 10.
The redshirt sophomore was third in batting average (.286) and hits (46) and even swiped 13 bases in 14 attempts. She was fourth in OPS (.783).
This was the second time in Sedakis’ career that she was honored by the conference, after earning All-Atlantic-10 first team and All-Rookie awards in 2024.
“I couldn’t have done it without the people around me for sure,” Sedakis said. “Its meaning is everything. I’m a very religious person, so I always rely (on the belief) that it’s the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with.
“I couldn’t have done it without my family beside me. It’s just a surreal feeling to have all of the hard work that I’ve put in throughout this season (pay dividends) and the people that didn’t give up when I got injured. It’s just so freeing and it’s kind of a ‘enjoy-the-moment’ feeling.”
The A-10 regular-season title was the first for Loyola.
“It means everything,” Sedakis said. “It means the world to the people before us and people who are on this team now who have played for the name of the Loyola Ramblers who have come together.
“To win it is pretty cool and just seeing this team work so hard to come out with the regular-season (championship) from getting (picked) sixth overall in the preseason polls and then coming in No. 1 was pretty cool to see.”
In the A-10 postseason, Loyola lost 7-4 to Fordham in the championship game. Sedakis was one of four Ramblers chosen to the All-Tournament team along with outfielder Sierra Sass, who is an Orland Park resident and Marist graduate.