By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn Anne Gledhill
**Additional photos are avaialble for purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/spartansvdiamonds **
Grace Gertner had the luxury of a lead, and the freedom to swing away.
On a beautiful summer night, everything was smooth, loose and fun.
“In our style of play, we like to be as aggressive on any chance that we get,” she said. “We like to run up the score, and be smart on the base path, and take any advantage that we can get. We want to punish their mistakes.”
Gertner scored two runs and blasted home an RBI triple in the Northbrook Spartans’ 10-0 victory over the Naperville Diamonds in 16U pool play of the Seminole Sports Summer Sizzler on Saturday, June 24 at Olympic Park.
The three-day, four-game guarantee field featured some of the top players in the Chicago suburbs.
The Spartans’ lineup is primarily composed of players, like Gertner, who come out of the Glenbrook North program. The team also features players from Maine South and rival Glenbrook South.
“I think, compared to the high school season, travel or summer ball is just more fun, in my opinion,” Gertner said. “I feel like we’re more relaxed, and we’re just having fun out there.
“We have good team chemistry. You see that in the way we play together, and how we take chances and advantage and just look to have fun out there as a team.”
Summer ball is competitive and spirited, but it also shaped by a camaraderie and team bond.
“The majority of us are from Glenbrook North, obviously, and then a few from a couple of other schools, but I think we just clicked right away,” Gertner said.
“We’re just having fun out there. There’s not really any pressure on us. We are just out there looking to play some good softball.”
Under the tournament format, each game was played under a strict 75-minute time limit. The Spartans wasted little time to jump on the Diamonds.
In the bottom of the first inning, lead off batter Izzy Gott reached on an infield hit, and scored the first run off a wild pitch. The Spartans’ aggressive base running established the dominant tone. The first two runs developed off wild pitches.
The Spartans play a very analytics-driven style, advancing the runner, putting pressure on the pitcher or infield to make plays. The Northbrook side aggressively runs the bases, either stealing or threatening the catcher on wild pitches or passed balls.
Gabi Steres drove in an RBI on a ground out for the 3-0 early lead. Starter Siena Mazza was the other dominant story in the game.
The right handed thrower kept the Diamonds off balance throughout, using her superb command and off-speed action to fluster their hitters. She permitted just two hits, gave up two walks and struck out three in the four-inning complete game.
“My screwball was working really well for me today,” Mazza said. “They were not really a big fan of the inside pitches, and the umpire had a high strike zone.
I was able to turn the screw into a rise ball, and then my change up worked for a few of the strikeouts. I was also able to work in some of the outside fastballs.”
The Diamonds’ Alex Yaeger and lead off Maisie Carr were the only two batters to register hits off of Mazza. Naperville’s only scoring chances occurred in the top of the second inning with the Yaeger single and a walk by Sami Schmidt. Mazza escaped the damage by coaxing an infield liner to shortstop.
One of the advantages of travel softball is the lineup experimentation, and the ability to explore different avenues and positional flexibility.
“I like to factor into what the umpire is calling, and everything and then see how they hit,” Mazza said. “I am usually a closing pitcher, so tonight I took what I got from the first batter, and went from there.”
The summer is a time to refine and develop skills. Mazza is using the experience to gain confidence and deepen her style.
“I am just trying to stay on top of what’s I do, so I can get as many strikeouts as possible and giving up fewer walks,” she said.
The Diamonds never truly threatened again after their top half of the second inning.
Mazza aided her own cause by opening the bottom of the second inning with an opposite field double. A hit batter and walk loaded the bases, setting up a two-run single by Maya Sheth for the 6-0 lead. Gertner’s RBI triple extended the advantage to 7-0.
The Spartans’ style is never slow down, regardless of the score. The team punctuated the dominant victory with another three-run barrage in the bottom of the third inning.
Three walks loaded the bases, and set the stage for a sharp two-run single by Lauren McClamroch. Coming up at the bottom of the order, she proved more than capable. That is another sharp aspect of summer culture. Most teams play their entire 14-player roster. She was the 10th of their 11 hitters.
“I just feel like this is very different from high school, because a lot of the time I feel more relaxed,” McClamroch said. “With my high school team, I feel pressured to always make plays. So I feel like this environment just makes it more fun. When I feel more relaxed, I do better.”
Everybody gets their chance to shine. The order is largely irrelevant.
“I think we’re just great friends, on and off the field, and we have great chemistry,” McClamroch said. “We hang out a lot, not just in softball, and a lot of the girls I play with in high school, so we just get along great.”
Best of all, the seasons crash together. The high school softball season goes to the first week of June for the state finals participants. The quick transition from high school to club is often seamless and deeply beneficial.
“It is very beneficial because you’re basically picking up right where you left off, and there is no rush to get off,” Gertner said. “You are getting right back into the swing of things.”