With Chloe Birch's new perch on the pitch, Metea Valley can feast. She's ‘hungry' after 2 knee injuries.
Metea Valley's Chloe Birch was drawing a lot of interest from college soccer coaches earlier in her career.
That dried up when Birch suffered a torn meniscus in November 2022. Then she tore it again in February 2024.
'The injury fully brought recruitment to a halt for a couple of years,' Birch said. 'It was hard, very mentally draining, very tough.
'But I knew with hard work my time would come and I just had to be patient. Eventually I was going to get my chance.'
That chance finally came when Birch, a senior forward who played club soccer during her first two seasons, made her debut for the Mustangs one year later than planned. She was with the team as a junior but could only watch and cheer.
'It was obviously very frustrating,' Birch said. 'I wanted to make an impact, but I knew my place and I knew the only thing I could do was make the best of it.
'I knew cheering them on and motivating them to be the best would just make me better in the end.'
Birch, who recently committed to North Dakota State, is already making a veteran team even better. She scored the game-winning goals in Metea Valley's back-to-back victories against Benet and Glenbard West last week.
Birch also assisted on senior forward Lily Senese 's game-winning strike in the Mustangs' 2-1 victory over host Wheaton North on Tuesday.
'It's amazing,' Birch said. 'I love the girls. I love the team. I love the competition. I'm so happy to be back.'
The Mustangs (3-1) are happy to have Birch in the lineup. She joins Senese, a Northern Michigan recruit, and senior Isabelle Leofanti, a Kent State recruit, to make one of the most potent forward lines in the state.
Those three, along with Marquette-bound senior midfielder Olivia Hernandez, are what Hernandez calls 'the fantastic four.' They have been friends since second grade and have played with each other off and on for school and club teams ever since.
'Oh, it's so nice,' Hernandez said. 'We're close off the field, so it's easy to be close on the field.'
Birch's presence on the field is a difference-maker for the Mustangs.
'We definitely need a powerful forward, and she gives us that on the wing,' Hernandez said. 'She can play anywhere, but it's really nice to have somebody to cross it because as you can see, she can cross it, and Lily can head it.'
That's exactly what happened against Wheaton North. Senese headed home a cross from Birch to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead with 2:07 left in the game. That provided a crucial cushion because the Falcons scored off a corner kick with 43 seconds left.
Birch prefers to play on the wing, but Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley knows he can utilize her elsewhere too.
'We think her best position might be center forward,' Whaley said. 'But we try to move people around quite a bit just to see how it works.'
Whaley is confident things will continue to work out for Birch.
'She is very motivated,' Whaley said. 'She's a pretty competitive kid and really loves the game and wants to do really well — not prove herself, but kind of show everybody what she's capable of.
'She's just hungry from being hurt. I think sitting out that long was tough. She's anxious to contribute.'
Indeed, Birch doesn't mind where she plays on the field as long as she's actually on it.
'I'm just trying to do what I can do, get other players involved, make other players have opportunities,' Birch said. 'Playing on the wing, I try to get crosses off for them to finish and let them have the goal if I need to, and then sometimes be selfish, take it myself, and just play based on what the game is giving us.'
Hernandez is intent on giving Birch passes in space.
'I like to find Chloe a lot on through balls,' Hernandez said. 'I can easily find her down the field, and she can get a cross on it. She's good at finding the ball and taking 1v1s.'
Birch, an aspiring pediatric nurse, is taking nothing for granted in her only high school season. She's relishing every moment and has high hopes for the Mustangs.
'I think we can go far,' Birch said. 'When we're hot, we're good, and we're going to work together, use our strengths and really pick defenses apart.'
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Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
'To be coached by him is to be loved.' Noblesville softball carries assistant's memory with them
WEST LAFAYETTE – A few parents are there to welcome the Noblesville softball team upon its arrival at Harrison High School for Wednesday's Class 4A regional championship game. It's a dreary, humid afternoon and there are concerns over an incoming storm front, but that's done little to dampen the excitement. One fan waves a giant black-and-gold flag, while another proudly rings a cowbell as the players step off the bus. And everyone is cheering. The Millers are wearing their black pinstripe uniforms for the occasion and nearly everyone has the same word written on their arm: Lutz. That's been a season-long tradition for this tightly knit group, a tribute to longtime assistant coach Craig Lutz, who died of a sudden medical emergency in early January. He was 53. "It's a good thing to see his name physically there," senior pitcher Emme Yee said Thursday from inside the NHS press box. "Seeing his name on our arms, especially when you're looking at a call on your wristband, it's a reminder that he's there and he's present with us." Lutz's ties to Noblesville run deep. A 1990 graduate himself, he played baseball with senior second baseman Addi Emmerson's uncle, basketball with senior outfielder Macie Duvall's uncles and helped coach senior outfielder Delaney Rundle's brother, Bret, on the Millers' 2014 state champion baseball team. Lutz poured his heart into the school every day and was always there for his players with a smile on his face, ready to make them laugh, Rundle said. "If you were coached by him, you knew what love was. He was an amazing person." Noblesville coach Deke Bullard and assistant coach Jennifer Thompson informed their players of Lutz's passing the morning after his death. As their teammates dispersed, the seniors — Duvall, Emmerson, Rundle, Yee, Nevaeh Nash and Brookelyn Grayson — stayed behind. They were processing it, said Nash, an IU signee. Some cried. Some didn't. "We just stayed together." There was anger, Rundle added. Why does this have to happen to us, to our community? Why did someone who was so important to us have to be taken away from our lives? "But we realized in that moment that we were going to be playing for him each and every single day. It was going to be all for him," the Marian-bound outfielder continued. "Obviously that day was super hard, but I think it brought our team a lot closer and made us realize life is short, so you need to cherish the things you have and the moments you have with the people you love." Noblesville had just begun loosening up when the first wave of precipitation arrived, a steady drizzle that steadily intensified over the next 30 minutes. Don't let the weather affect you, a coach calls out. It's impacted you too many times this year. The team is eventually forced into the dugout where after a few minutes, Bullard gathers them together on the home-plate side. He explains there is a tight window for them to fit the game into and urges his players to start fast. Harrison's 10-12 record may indicate otherwise, but it's extremely dangerous and not one to let hang around, he says. Get ahead early and don't let up. "You guys have prepared for this moment," assistant coach Shawn Kauzlick says. "You are ready for today, ready for this test. Let's show them what we can do." Time to get it done. When the rain relents and the teams are cleared to continue pregame prep, Thompson watches over starter Addison Retzinger as she warms up with catcher Reese Newsom. The sophomore pitcher has been brilliant this season, collecting six wins and 138 strikeouts with a 2.54 ERA, and as she nears the end of her session Wednesday, Thompson provides an assessment to Bullard: "Have you seen her screwball today? It's like, woah." There was no hesitancy — among the seniors, at least — about returning to the diamond following Lutz's untimely passing. It lit a fire under them; galvanized them, Rundle said. They were playing for something much bigger than themselves. Do it for Lutz. That's been Noblesville's slogan this season, a source of inspiration as it won 16 games against one of the state's toughest schedules, then eliminated No. 9 Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers and No. 3 Zionsville en route to its ninth sectional title. You'll find it on all their social media channels, on the stickers affixed to the back of each player's helmet and on the practice shirts and blue wristbands the seniors designed before the season. Do it for Lutz. "That is something I'm taking outside of Noblesville," said Duvall, a Glenville State signee who's been out injured since April 28. "I'm gonna play for Lutz my next four years. It's not something I'm going to leave. I'm going to wear this bracelet until it breaks. And when I break this one, I'll get a new one." Lutz had at least 30 family members in attendance for this year's Miller Invite, the seniors estimated. And all of them were sitting in the front row, wearing the same blue shirts as the players with a script Millers across the front and Lutz written across the back — except for his grandchildren, whose shirts said "Pop Pop Lutz" on the back. For Wednesday's regional, Amy Lutz, Craig's wife, gave the entire team friendship bracelets with one of her husband's favorite phrases: "Deuces, get 'em hot." (Whenever the count reached 2-2 with two outs, he would call that out as the players swiped two fingers across their temple.) Amy also gave them a large, framed photo of Lutz, asking if they would bring Craig with them to West Lafayette. "He would want more than anything to be here with us (and) I was glad that he was there for us," Emmerson said, referencing the photo which they leaned on the bench inside their dugout. "Amy is doing exactly what Lutz did. He always cared for us," Emmerson later added. "That whole family is such a blessing to our program and getting to play for him — I don't know if there's ever a program or coach that I'm going to play for that is going to be so impactful. It's unfortunate he didn't get to be with us this season, but I will never take the last three years for granted." The somber tone as the Millers head inside Harrison High School for the game's first rain delay makes it feel as if they're on the verge of being run-ruled. The players line either side of the hallway and are sitting mostly in silence until Bullard walks down the aisle and reminds them where they stand. Yes, the Raiders seized momentum with a double right before the break, but it's still only the second inning of a scoreless game. "What kind of team are we? Don't let it bother you. It happens." "You're going to get punched in the mouth. You have to respond. We just have to do it as a team," he concludes before walking outside. "We've had the curse of the rain," Duvall said the following morning. "I went back (Wednesday) night and thought about every single game we played in the rain — and we've struggled each time. So I think it was underlying thoughts of, 'Oh no, we're playing in the rain and we've struggled with that in the past.' It made us tense up." After a few minutes of silence, Grayson addresses the team, analyzing Harrison pitcher Bradi Odom and strategizing how she and her teammates should adjust. "Thanks, coach Brookie," a teammate says. Grayson, a Duke commit, is back with the Millers following a two-year hiatus and has been a perfect fit. A first team All-State honoree, she leads the team in average (.545), hits (42) and runs (35) and ranks third with 23 RBIs, while in the field, having her at shortstop has allowed everyone else to return to their natural positions. "Brookie is someone I look to when I need someone to pick me up and need encouragement," Rundle said, both responsibilities all six seniors have embraced this season. "We've taken the role of not necessarily being the type of leader who bosses people around, but picks other people up," she continued. "Each of us has been selfless this year." "Addi prays for the team before every game which helps us settle in, and of course we're always thinking of Lutz and reminding ourselves that he's here with us," Grayson added. "I think that gives us a moment to relax and say 'We're here. This is an opportunity we need to take advantage of and not be scared of the moment.'" As the rains begin letting up, Bullard re-enters and offers another pep talk before play resumes, imploring them to find their energy and asking how many games they've been down in. We're not even down, Emmerson interjects. "Yeah," Bullard continues, "you guys are acting like your dog just died." It was at this point the players immediately looked at Grayson. Unbeknownst to Bullard, her cat recently ran away and "is likely dead now" — making for an awkward, but also darkly humorous exchange that brought a bit of levity to the room. "How bad do we want it?" one of the seniors calls out as the Millers file out of the building. "We didn't come all the way up here just to lie down." Rundle kept repeating the same thing over and over to Izzy Zapp as she tracked a third-inning fly ball to right field. Trust yourself. Trust yourself. Trust yourself. No one was blaming Zapp for the second-inning double that preceded the initial rain delay and ultimately resulted in Harrison's first run. It's normally a routine play for the sophomore outfielder, but with raindrops the size of mini-marshmallows pelting her in the face, the level of difficulty was raised exponentially. "She's made how many catches out there in that exact same spot?" Grayson said. "Watching that play I was like, 'Oh, she's going to catch it,' but when there's a downpour coming at you and you're looking up — I mean, for me at least, I wouldn't be able to catch it." It can be easy for a player to get down on themselves in that situation, Rundle observed, so the seniors and coaches immediately set about picking up Zapp. "Knowing that she has her teammates behind her has really helped her throughout the season, but Izzy's definitely had a huge role in our success," she said. Trust yourself. When Harrison hit a fly ball to the exact same spot in the third, Zapp fielded it without incident, stranding a runner on second and holding the score at 1-0. "That's really us embodying Lutz," Emmerson said, recalling how Lutz would tell her a joke, then ask her to give one back to keep her spirits up during games and at practice. "That's exactly how he was. Always positive and encouraging," the Lee commit continued. "And I think missing him challenged us to fulfill that role in ways, as teammates, that we hadn't thought of before." There's a sense of confidence among the seniors as they look ahead to the final 2.5 innings of their 4A regional final vs. Harrison from the NHS parking lot Thursday morning. They understand the challenge ahead, but also recognize this type of situation can bring out the best in them, accentuating the grittiness that enabled this group to have so much success. And considering what they've already overcome this season, by no means does a 7-0 deficit with no outs in the bottom of the fifth seem insurmountable "I know he's probably listening to this interview right now, so Lutz, we all love you and we miss you. And we can't wait to keep playing for you," Rundle smiled. Noblesville's journey ended Thursday night, 24 hours after it began. The Millers escaped the fifth inning without allowing another run, but were unable to capitalize with two runners on in the sixth, then went down in order in the seventh. Final score: 7-0. Harrison (11-12) advances to face Penn in Saturday's semistate semifinal; Noblesville finishes 19-8. As they reflected upon the possible end of their season, the seniors — as they have all year — were quick to provide perspective. "Having the chance to play at regionals and having the chance to play in general is just a blessing," the Bellarmine-bound Yee said. "To be here together in this community, in this program, is something we should cherish. Win or lose, we should do what Lutz did and have a smile on our face; be positive and carry on his (legacy) and the love he had for his family and everyone around him. That's something we should all carry on together, not just in softball, but in life in general."
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Seth Hernandez wins Gatorade National Player of the Year, ready for MLB draft day
Seth Hernandez wins Gatorade National Player of the Year, ready for MLB draft day Show Caption Hide Caption Watch baseball player's emotional reaction to surprise MLB promotion During a minor league baseball game in Tacoma, Washington, Cole Young was pulled aside and informed he'd been called up to play in the big leagues. Seth Hernandez has not yet thrown a professional pitch. Yet he's already getting pretty good at slowing the game down. Hernandez will hear that phrase a lot over the next, say, decade or two, as he progresses from prep baseball phenomenon to first-round draft pick and, in just a few weeks, the projected future ace of a major league franchise. But things are already coming quickly. Thursday, Hernandez fulfilled a longtime goal when he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, joining a group that in the four decades of the honor has gone on to combine for four MVPs, 42 All-Star appearances and 27 first-round draft selections. Come July 13, Hernandez will join that group. With a 100-mph fastball and a mature three-pitch mix, Hernandez is by far the best prep pitcher in this draft and remains on the periphery of consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. With significant volatility among the projected top 10 – thanks to prep stars like Hernandez, his Corona High School teammate Billy Carlson and Oklahoma prep shortstops Ethan Holliday and Ei Willits along with a bevy of elite college arms – Hernandez could go anywhere in the first dozen names called. MLB DRAFT PROSPECTS: Players to watch in NCAA super regionals He's already going through the ringer of interviews and visits with clubs, as they probe his hobbies (golfing, though not particularly well) and off-field demeanor (chill, it seems). All while his decorated high school career came to a dramatic end and graduation looms. 'It's a game,' Hernandez told USA TODAY Sports after All-Star and World Series champion Dexter Fowler surprised him with the Gatorade honor, 'and you just got to be able to take in the special moments because not everybody's privileged to do this stuff. 'And really just taking it day by day. The draft is something super special and it's going be a surreal moment, but I know that it's just going to be the starting point and something new and a new chapter in my life. 'So it's going to be exciting.' It's already been an exciting couple years for Hernandez. His Corona Panthers put together an epic two-year run, beginning in 2024 when they won the National High School Invitational in Cary, North Carolina and capped a 30-3 season with a CIF-Southern Section Division I championship. Their 5-0 victory over Harvard-Westlake – the powerhouse that's produced Lucas Giolito, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and Pete Crow-Armstrong – made them the first team in history to claim bot the NHSI and the crown at the highest level of California baseball. How does one top that? Well, Hernandez could be the first of three Panthers to come off the board in round one. Shortstop Carlson is also pegged to go in the first dozen or so picks, while infielder Brady Ebel should land in the first two rounds. The trio did all right this year, too, going 28-3 before falling in the Division I semifinals to St. John Bosco. And Hernandez certainly did his part. He gave up just one earned run all season before Bosco's 3-0 semifinal victory. Hernadnez finished with a 105-7 strikeout-walk ratio. 'It was awesome. They're going to be my brothers for life,' Hernandez said of his teammates. 'Obviously, we didn't take it home this year, but we did take it home last year. And the group that we had this year was super special. Once in a generation type of team. And it was great just because we gelled so well together and really just brothers – not only on the field, but off the field as well. 'With the team we had this year, it's kind of hard to look back and say it was a failure just because our team was so special. And like I said, it was once in a generation type of thing. No hard feelings.' Oh, and Hernandez slammed seven home runs and drove in 30, leaving a strong impression on Fowler, the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series champ. 'I've watched his videos and he's got a nice swing on him. I didn't know!' says Fowler. 'Is this the next Shohei? What are we doing?' Quipped Hernandez: 'I'm not stealing 50 bags.' Nope, not when he's expected to receive a bonus in the high seven figures. Hernandez, who committed to Vanderbilt, first drew the strong attention of scouts as a high school sophomore, when he hit 96 mph on the radar gun at an Area Code Games event at Dodger Stadium. He has improved his pitchability as his frame filled out, and pushed his fastball to triple digits. Come mid-July, that progress will pay off, and soon after, Hernandez will be a professional. Things will change, as a game becomes a business. With that, Fowler had some words of advice to keep Hernandez grounded. 'My parents always asked me, 'When do you think you'll be done playing?'' says Fowler, who played his last game in 2021 and retired with 1,306 hits and a .358 on-base percentage over 14 seasons. 'I said, 'When I stop having fun.' When it becomes a job, I'm going to be done. 'So keep this same attitude, keep this same energy. It'll take take you where you need to go.'
Chicago Tribune
18 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Claire Connelly has been here before. With Mundelein in need of a run, Indiana State commit sprints for one.
Mundelein senior Claire Connelly is used to displaying her power. A four-year starter, the Indiana State recruit is widely known as a slugger with an impressive ability to put the bat on the ball. She hits to all fields and knocks a fair share out of the park. She's also a standout first baseman. On Thursday, Connelly showed something more. In the top of the seventh inning, in her first at-bat since striking out for the first time all season, she hit a long fly ball to right-center field that was misplayed by a Stevenson outfielder, and she hustled all the way to third base. 'I saw both of them coming toward center and just tried to give it my all because it could've been my last at-bat of my high school career,' Connelly said. 'I kept running, and the ball dropped. 'If I didn't run as fast as I did, I would've only gotten to second, so I'm glad I sprinted full speed because it gave me an extra base.' That proved to be particularly important for Mundelein because its next batter, junior Shea Eaman, hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Connelly ran home and scored the only run of a Class 4A Stevenson Sectional semifinal as the fifth-seeded Mustangs upset the top-seeded Patriots 1-0 in Lincolnshire. 'Claire was so determined to take the game over herself because she's done it so many times,' Mundelein coach Heather Ryan said. 'She got fooled once, but she wouldn't let it happen to her again. There was no one else I wanted at bat in that moment. She wanted it so badly.' The Mustangs (23-10), who will play 11th-seeded Loyola in the sectional championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the Patriots (28-4) each had only one hit in the pitchers' duel. Mundelein junior left-hander Sophia Zepeda (9-4) earned the victory, striking out eight and navigating six walks, to keep her team on track for a second straight trip to the state semifinals. Stevenson junior right-hander Ava Potempa (16-3) struck out seven and walked one. 'Sometimes in close games, when no one scores, it comes down to whatever team messes up first,' Stevenson coach Vera Pflugradt said. 'We've done a great job defensively all year. This is a great group of girls, and they bought in and had a great season.' Connelly said her rare strikeout against Potempa may have helped her. 'I think not striking out put a lot of pressure on me to not do it,' she said. 'Once it happened, I was fine, and I thought about my next at-bat. I seemed to be getting more pitches in the zone. I took what I did and was successful.' Ryan said Connelly has a lot to do with the Mustangs being successful. Connelly holds the program record for career RBIs and heads into the sectional final batting .477 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 44 RBIs and 30 runs scored. She also has a .986 fielding percentage. 'Claire is the heart and soul of our team,' Ryan said. 'She's been the constant, someone so reliable throughout the years. She's mentored the younger players and raised the bar of expectations for our whole team. We go as she goes.' Ryan said Connelly helped Zepeda overcome control issues. 'Claire played a complete game today,' Ryan said. 'She played excellent defense and calmed Sophia down. She brings that senior leadership. We've had such an up-and-down season with injuries. She was the face of the team and helped us ride the waves and slumps. 'I was so happy she had the hit and scored the run. It was a great reward for her.' Zepeda said she never doubted whether Connelly would come through in the seventh inning. 'I knew Claire was going to get the job done,' Zepeda said. 'She always comes up big. I was little off today, and my spin was not so great, but she saved us.' Mundelein junior outfielder Kieley Tomas said Connelly is a calming presence for everyone. 'I've been playing with Claire since she was 10 years old,' Tomas said. 'She's always been a player to come through in the big moments. She's a great role model for everyone. She's always positive and tells us to put our best foot out there.' Connelly said she hopes to play three more games for the Mustangs. 'I never thought I would have the career or the seasons I did,' she said. 'But I'm so grateful to my teammates for supporting me.'
