Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony understands there will be growing pains to overcome as she continues working to improve her craft.
The talented sophomore endured a game Thursday that had it all — the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful — in testing her mettle to the max.
“It happens,” Anthony said. “We’ve gotta be tighter on defense and do our best instead of making errors and stuff. If I can’t do it fielding, I have to make up for it in other ways.”
Her emotions were a yo-yo, but Anthony did just that for the host Panthers in a 10-6 Southwest Prairie West loss to West Aurora.
Anthony started at shortstop and committed three errors in the second inning that led to five unearned runs for the Blackhawks, but she followed it up with a strong pitching performance in relief of Northern Illinois-bound starter Aubriella Garza.
At the plate, Anthony hit two home runs —a two-run shot and a three-run blast. It gives her six for the season, and cut Oswego’s deficit in this one to 9-6.
Anthony’s bounce-back didn’t surprise Iowa recruit Kiyah Chavez, a junior catcher who hit a solo home run and was robbed of another for the final out of the game by Mia Malczyk in center field.
“No, that’s Jaelynn,” Chavez said. “She may make a silly mistake, but she’s going to turn around and pick us all up. That’s why we’re such a good team. We’re full of athletes who are just like that.”
Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony (20) reacts after hitting a home run against West Aurora during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Thursday, April 11, 2024. (Trent Sprague / The Beacon-News)
Chavez, who now has five home runs, teams up with Anthony and juniors Garza and first baseman Rikka Ludvigson to form a powerhouse middle of the lineup for Oswego (7-4, 1-1).
Garza already has three home runs, while Ludvigson is hitting .419. All four have 10 or more RBIs for a team that averages eight runs a game.
West Aurora hasn’t been as potent at the plate, but had 13 hits Thursday and took advantage of two more Oswego errors in the sixth to score three more unearned runs.
Junior shortstop Sara Tarr hit her second home run of the season for an insurance run in the seventh to back winning pitcher Katelyn Serafin, who allowed eight hits and struck out eight with no walks for the Blackhawks (4-3, 1-1).
“They can hit,” West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. “We knew it was going to be a battle like this. They’re an impossible team to shut out. But the goal was we had to get this win.
“We needed that one. I thought it was the best job we’ve done putting the bat on the ball.”
West Aurora’s Ionicca Rivera (17) snag a ball in the infield against Oswego during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Thursday, April 11, 2024. (Trent Sprague / The Beacon-News)
Five Blackhawks — Serafin, Keira Hayton, Ionicca Rivera, Diana Vargas and Bella Marzullo — picked up two hits apiece.
“I’ve still gotta tighten up my pitching a little bit and hit my spots a little better,” said Serafin, who continues her comeback from elbow surgery that sidelined her for much of last season.
Oswego coach Paul Netzel said the defensive lapses hurt.
“Jaelynn normally is a pretty sure-handed fielder,” he said. “We gave that one away — give up eight unearned runs, it’s hard to win. Jaelynn came back and did a good job hitting and pitching.”
Anthony said the action on Serafin’s fastball gave Oswego hitters fits.
“It’s more of an up spin,” Anthony said. “So when the girls hit the ball, it does up, and it seems like it’s always pop-ups.”
West Aurora’s Mia Malczyk (2) catches an fly ball in the outfield against Oswego during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Thursday, April 11, 2024. (Trent Sprague / The Beacon-News)
Malczyk wasn’t surprised she took away one potential home run.
“I told our right fielder Gracie Del Toro before the game the fences are really low so it’s easy to do,” Malczyk said. “If you get there fast enough, to rob the ball.
“Those four in the middle of their lineup are all power hitters. When they came up I was just thinking ‘back up’ because they can all hit it out.”
Chavez said she just tried to keep Anthony loose after the second inning.
“Jaelynn has a silly personality, loves to be crazy,” Chavez said. “We’ve gotten pretty close and are buddies. You just want to loosen her up there. Overall, we needed to adjust better at the plate.
“It’s a stupid game, sometimes.”
