During an up-and-down season, Waubonsie Valley pitcher Samantha Wiertelak has taken her share of lumps, but the junior right-hander isn’t backing down whatsoever.
She just rolls with the punches. It serves her well in both of her sports, as does hitting her spots.
A three-year varsity bowler, Wiertelak puts in the time, according to teammate Hannah Laub.
“Sam has been working her butt off,” said Laub, who has cut down on her innings sharing pitching duties with Wiertelak. “We go every Sunday to the Naperville Diamonds facility and I catch for her.
“We work together to figure pitches out.”
Both also teach lessons for young pitchers.
“I love it,” Laub said of Wiertelak. “She’s always willing to listen, and she’s been doing awesome. The progress she’s made this year is amazing.”
A much-improved change-up was evident Thursday night as Wiertelak turned the tables on Metea Valley in a 9-3 DuPage Valley Conference win at Aurora University’s Bedrosian Stadium.
It came in the DVC Cares tripleheader that raised money for Mutual Ground, a domestic abuse treatment center.
Wiertelak (7-6) threw a complete-game six-hitter with two strikeouts and two walks as the Warriors (12-13, 6-6) played flawless defense behind her.
Waubonsie Valley’s Samantha Wiertelak celebrates with Alyssa Tukker against Metea Valley during a DuPage Valley Conference game at Aurora University’s Bedrosian Stadium on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
“She was ready to go,” Waubonsie coach Valerie Wood said. “She had total control. It’s always in your head to relax, but you still have to have that grit and go get ’em attitude, and she did today.”
Wiertelak started two previous meetings against Metea (12-10, 9-3) and took 9-3 and 19-7 losses, giving up four home runs in the latter game.
“This one is special,” Wiertelak said. “Metea has been our toughest competition this year. We knew we had to come in with high energy and get the bats going right away.”
Laub, an Army basketball commit, hit her 11th home run of the season. She also doubled and drove in four runs to lead a 14-hit attack for the Warriors.
Three of the four freshmen who start for Waubonsie also had two hits apiece and everyone in the lineup had at least one hit off junior pitcher Charlie Benesh (10-5).
Reese Valha hit a two-run homer, her seventh, to pace the Mustangs in defeat.
Metea Valley’s Reese Valha gets a hit against Waubonsie Valley during a DuPage Valley Conference game at Aurora University’s Bedrosian Stadium on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
Not much else got to Wiertelak.
“Samantha has been working very hard on her mental process, staying in the game and focused,” Wood said. “Then our hitting is so much better since the beginning of the season.
“I think knowing these bats are going to be coming around made it like a piece of cake for her.”
Her winter game may help her summer game.
“It goes hand in hand sometimes,” Wiertelak said. “It definitely helps in the offseason. I bowl with a 13-pound ball, so it definitely keeps my shoulder in shape — helps on top of doing travel ball.
“I plan to work hard on both this summer and hope to come out pretty strong next year in bowling.”
Her in-season work with Laub has been a big help this season, too.
Waubonsie Valley’s Samantha Wiertelak, left, celebrates with Alyssa Tukker against Metea Valley during a DuPage Valley Conference game at Aurora University’s Bedrosian Stadium on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
And Wood, who pitched in college for Ohio, also offers valuable insights.
“She’s more of a movement pitcher, and she’s got her change-up,” Wood said. “She was hitting her spots, especially working inside very well. I think that’s where she threw them off. She was able to get right on the corner rather than right on the plate belt high.
“We’ve struggled with that, but she kept it low and right on the black of the plate. Working on knees to shin is perfect — where you want to be. Go thigh or belt high, and it’s going to go over the fence or for doubles and triples.”
A 40-minute rain and lightning delay in the opening game of the tripleheader also gave Wiertelak plenty of warm-up time.
“I ask her before every game, ‘Are you ready or do you need to throw some more?’” Wood said. “Sometimes you have to throw a full game before your regular game. That’s how I was.
“I had to throw a lot before my actual game.”
