Antioch sophomore Sam Hillner is no stranger to big moments.
In her second season starting for the Sequoits, Hillner has been in a lot of those situations. She knows how to handle them too.
“When I’m playing, I just block everything out and feel the energy and relax,” she said. “I realized that I can’t go into hitting having pressure on me, so I have fun and try to have a quality at-bat.”
Quality at-bats are common for Hillner, who hit a two-run homer in each of the past two games to help Antioch (28-5) return to the state semifinals for the third straight season. The Sequoits, the Class 3A state runners-up last year, will play Waterloo (27-6) at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
“Sam has come through for us a number of times this year,” Antioch sophomore catcher Addie Webb said.
Hillner is batting .344 with eight doubles, four home runs, 27 RBIs, 23 runs scored and eight stolen bases. She leads the team with 16 walks.
“She’s got a great walk ratio,” Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said. “She has great patience at the plate. She’s able to look for a pitch to drive and has such a smart approach. She knows what’s she looking for and doesn’t chase much. She’s really hit the ball well in the last couple of games.”
Hillner homered during the Sequoits’ 5-2 win against Northern Lake County Conference rival Lakes in the Antioch Sectional championship game last week and did it again during their 8-2 win against Sycamore in the Kaneland Supersectional on Monday.
But Hillner had already come through for Antioch in clutch situations last year. She drove in two of the Sequoits’ three runs in their two state tournament games as a freshman.
“Last year at state made me more comfortable for sure for this year,” she said. “I’m so excited for this weekend, especially because I hope we can do better than last year. I’m, like, happy that we get another chance.”
Hillner is ready to make an impact again too.
“I want to do more,” she said.
Antioch’s Sam Hillner, right, talks to the first base coach during a game against Glenbrook South in Glenview on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (James C. Svehla / News-Sun)
But hitting isn’t Hillner’s only talent on the field. She has committed just one error at third base this season, and that came on a muddy field in a win against Wauconda in April.
“She’s very good defensively,” Rocco said. “She’s played in a lot of pressure situations. When you get to start in the state championship game in your freshman season, you can handle most anything. She’s played near perfect defensively for us this year against some very good competition. She’s got a great maturity about her and a great work ethic. A lot of kids look up to her.”
Antioch senior pitcher Jacey Schuler (22-3), a Michigan State recruit, said she fully trusts Hillner.
“(Sam) is always taking quality swings and fighting pitches off with runners on,” Schuler said. “She deals with pressure well. She does a great job at third base, allowing me to always be super confident when a ball gets hit her way.”
Hillner, who played first base last season, is primarily a catcher in travel softball and is one of Antioch’s emergency catchers too. She’s also pretty adept as a pitcher, which she showed during the Sequoits’ 15-10 win against Johnsburg on May 6.
“She closed out the game for us against Johnsburg,” Rocco said. “She came in during the seventh inning and got three outs.
“She showed she could pitch in her freshman year against the defending 4A state champion, St. Charles North. She’s a very good athlete, so we knew she could bring it. That Johnsburg game was on the line, and she shut the door on them.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
