Naperville Central duo will play for SIU

Updated: May 3, 2011 10:20PM

Carbondale will be getting a double dose of Naperville Central in the next couple of years.

First, senior Alyssa Wunderlich, the No. 1 pitcher on the Redhawks’ softball team, committed to Southern Illinois University. About a year and a half later, junior short stop Kelsey Gonzalez signed on as well.

Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum, who has been coaching the Redhawks since 1984, said Wunderlich and Gonzalez are the first two in the program to head to SIU, which is a top 25-ranked team. No Chicago area players are on the current Saluki roster. Obviously, that’s going to change soon.

“It’s great for them to both be recruited to play there,” Nussbaum said. “That shows the level of talent not only for our team, but the community and the area. They both work really hard. They have probably played 1,000 games apiece in their lives, so just to be recruited by a school that good is a real feather in their cap.”

“When they go, I wish them all the luck in the world, but for now, I’m glad they are still here,” Nussbaum said.

Wunderlich’s recruiting process started her sophomore year. She said yes to SIU the summer going into her junior year. Gonzalez also committed early — in December 2010.

“(SIU coach Kerri Blaylock) told me she was looking for a really good shortstop,” Wunderlich said. “She saw Kelsey play and asked me about her. Kelsey is great, obviously, so that was really cool. I’m so happy we are going to play together. When I was 10, we played on the same team together. It’s nice to continue that because she is a great fielder and hitter. I trust her behind me; she is so good.”

Added Gonzalez: “It helps a lot that someone I already know is going to be there. It will be nice to have Alyssa there. I’m really excited.”

Marshall heading to WIU

Another local shortstop who committed to a college early is Sammy Marshall from Naperville North. The four-year varsity starter committed to Western Illinois before the 2010 season started.

Speaking of the 2010 season, Marshall broke all sorts of single-season records last year, including hits (65), on-base percentage (.626), batting average (.586) and stolen bases (49). She also had a fielding percentage of .954.

Marshall also earned the DuPage Valley Conference Player of the Year honor, even though the team did not win the league title. She was also named third team all-state.

“I’ve coached baseball and I’ve worked a lot of the basketball and football games, and I mean this sincerely — (Marshall) is one of the best athletes ever at Naperville North, bar none with all the things she can do and all the things she has done,” Naperville North softball coach Jerry Kedziora said. “I hope she can continue her success. It’s awesome to watch her play, and we are lucky to have her.”

Marshall also was nominated to be The Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year (Coal City’s Kirsten Verdun won). She was nominated again this year and also has a chance to be on the Under Armour All-America team (top 30 softball players in the country).

“It’s a huge honor,” Marshall said. “There are so many good players, and just to be thought of as a contestant for it is huge. It means a lot.”

Currently, Marshall is on a 42-game hitting streak. She hit safely in all 32 games last year and so far, in all 10 games this year, including the 2-0 loss against Wheaton Warrenville South. In that game, she had the Huskies’ lone hit.

Marshall will probably leave Naperville North as one of the best-ever softball players. She’s probably one of fastest as well.

“I hear my grandma was really fast, as weird as that sounds,” Marshall said. “I heard she ran a super-fast 100 meter dash. I never would have guessed, but I guess that’s where it came from.”

As for all the records? As long as the Huskies win, that’s all that matters to Marshall.

“Personally, it feels good, but it’s nice to know it is helping the team,” Marshall said. “It’s mainly what I can do to help the team.”

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