Batavia’s Ryan tops in Aurora area

Updated: June 24, 2011 1:32PM

Katie Ryan has never considered herself a home run hitter. It’s something she probably needs to rethink.

That’s because the Batavia sophomore center fielder tied a 29-year-old Illinois high school softball record this spring by belting 18 round-trippers. Becky Clark of Newton set that standard in 1982.

“I was surprised, I didn’t expect that to happen,” Ryan, a first-year varsity player, said of her big bopper exploits. “I was surprised to hit that many home runs. I’ve never really done that before. I had hit triples and doubles before, but not home runs, and certainly not like that.”

In a potent Bulldog lineup that had plenty of snap and crackle, Ryan provided the pop — and then some — from an unusual spot in the lineup. She batted leadoff.

It helped her earn Beacon-News Player of the Year honors over other deserving candidates like Yorkville senior outfielder Sonja Gilbertson, Geneva senior pitcher Kelly McCaffrey and sophomore shortstops Anna Petersen (Metea Valley), Amanda Minahan (Waubonsie Valley) and Brittany Warnecke (Oswego East).

Batavia averaged 7.7 runs-per-game in a 20-9 season. The team had nine regulars who all batted .322 or better and combined to hit .377 (299-for-792).

But it all started with Ryan, who hit for a .455 average, second only to third baseman Christine Lynam (.500) on the team. In addition to the home runs, Ryan had team highs of 50 hits, 42 RBI, 39 runs and 110 at-bats.

“We had a good lineup, up and down it, so there were a lot of people on base,” Ryan said. “I wasn’t trying to hit home runs. I just wanted to get on base.”

That doesn’t surprise Batavia coach Ashley Szymski.

“She’s a humble player and she’s not about her numbers,” Szymski said. “All she knows is that when she sees a pitch she likes, she swings hard. She’s not trying to hit a home run. She is just a very strong player who makes good contact.

“I think it’s (a combination of) her physical strength and her swing and the ball just goes. She never keeps track of her home runs but we do. Katie just wants to do well.”

She’s off to a great start and may be just coming into her own.

“I played a lot of soccer when I was younger,” said Ryan, who plays summer ball for the Wasco Diamonds. “This will be just my third year on a travel team.”

Szymski was the varsity assistant last year when the decision was made to keep Ryan on the sophomore team.

“She came into the program as a pitcher and last year we already had a couple kids pitching (on varsity),” said Szymski, who as interim coach late in Ryan’s freshman year did bring her up for the regional tournament.

“We knew that by her senior year she might be the team’s primary pitcher and thought it was best to let her pitch a lot of innings.”

In a regional loss to West Chicago last year, Szymski called upon the freshman to pinch hit against Wildcats’ ace and DePaul recruit Mary Connally. Ryan responded with a single in her first varsity at-bat.

“That was horrifying, she’s a good pitcher,” said Ryan. “That was as nervous (hitting) as I’ve ever been. It gave me some extra confidence (coming into her sophomore season).”

With three solid pitchers still in the fold this season, Szymski limited Ryan’s pitching to one two-inning relief appearance and used her in the outfield.

“She’s played shortstop in the summer, too,” the coach said. “We like that she has a quick first step and a great arm. She gets the ball in from the outfield and it’s like a laser beam.

“I don’t think she’s really crazy about pitching in terms of the pressure cooker of it, but she knows she can throw the ball pretty hard so she knows it would be good for the team (at some point) if she continues practicing pitching.”

In the offseason, Ryan takes private pitching lessons from the Diamonds’ Jo Waldron and hitting instruction from Matt Schacht and George Ewert.

“I probably like center field the best,” Ryan said. “I’ve played it the most and I’m most comfortable there, but I’ll play wherever they need me. I think I could play almost anywhere, except catcher.”

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