As one of the team’s most productive hitters, junior outfielder Rheanna Slavicek makes a lot of noise with her bat for Lockport.
She also makes a lot of noise in left field.
Junior pitcher Kelcie McGraw can hear her positive shouts loud and clear. In fact, so can senior catcher Brooke Keltner from all the way behind home plate.
“She’s always talking out there,” Keltner said of Slavicek. “With all the fans behind me cheering, I can still hear her bringing some energy to the rest of the field.
“When I can hear her talking, I know it’s going to be a good day.”
Slavicek was a leader in many ways Monday for the Porters during an 11-5 victory over host Lincoln-Way West in a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox.
Mikayla Cvitanovich, Morgan Spodarek and Keltner all homered for Lockport (8-2, 1-0). Slavicek added two hits, a walk and two runs. McGraw struck out 11 for the pitching win.
Reese Rourke hit two home runs and drove in all five runs for West (4-3, 0-1).
Slavicek is adapting to her new position in the batting order with aplomb.
Lockport’s Brooke Keltner (22) walks to the dugout in the bottom of the sixth inning against Lincoln-Way West during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Nate Swanson / Daily Southtown)
She led off the game by working the count to 3-2 and getting a walk. She eventually scored on a single by Ava Swain. In the second, she laid down a beauty of a sacrifice bunt. In the fourth, she slashed a one-out line single to left. In the fifth, she ground a single into right-center.
All of it was what a No. 1 hitter in a lineup is supposed to do. But here’s the rub. Last season as a sophomore on varsity, Slavicek batted ninth. You can’t make a more dramatic move up the order.
“Well… I have hit No. 1 in the order,” Slavicek said of summer travel ball. “It’s nice being there because you normally get more opportunities to bring people in.
“I mean in a way, the No. 9 spot is pretty much the same as No. 1. You obviously have to keep the lineup going, no matter if there are two outs or none.”
Lockport’s Rheanna Slavicek (4) gets ready to bat against Lincoln-Way West during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Nate Swanson / Daily Southtown)
It was an easy decision for Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec.
“We knew from last season that she kept turning over the lineup for us at the bottom,” Chovanec said. “But we had Addy Foster in the leadoff last year, and we weren’t moving her out of there.
“We actually moved Rheanna to the leadoff position at the WJOL (Tournament), and she’s been hot in that spot. She has good at-bats. She sees the ball well. That’s what you want to see in a leadoff hitter.”
Perhaps Slavicek’s bigger jump was from being on the freshman team to being called up last spring to the varsity.
“My sophomore year, at first I was brought up to pinch run,” Slavicek said. “And then I got the opportunity to hit and play left field.”
Since then, she has made her presence felt in other ways as well.
“Oh, Rheanna is the life of the party,” Keltner said. “She brings energy every day. And since she has been moved to No. 1 in the order, she has really cranked it out.
“She has done her job. She has proven herself in the field — she has proven herself in the batter’s box. She knows how to get the game rolling. And when she hits, everyone else hits. I think she has taken on this role really well.”
Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec celebrates a home run against Lincoln-Way West during a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover game in New Lenox on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Nate Swanson / Daily Southtown)
No one appreciates it more than McGraw.
“It’s great to know she’s there,” McGraw said. “I know she’s going to lay out for the ball. She puts up a strong defense. And she always produces in the box.
“When she gets us started, it makes you very comfortable.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
