Meet Metea Valley's Emma Strcic, a DePaul commit whose best means ‘you shouldn't even know I'm on the field'
Metea Valley's Emma Strcic is an invisible star.
The junior defensive midfielder might be the best player you've never heard about or at least haven't noticed.
That's just the way she likes it.
'I always make the joke that if I'm doing my job right, you shouldn't even know I'm on the field,' Strcic said. 'If I'm possessing the ball well, if I'm covering other people, even if I'm just standing in position to cover the ball if it goes over, helping my teammate, that's the role of the 6.
'It's doing the things people don't always see, but it's definitely key to the game.'
Strcic's name doesn't show up on the stat sheet. The DePaul commit has no goals and one assist in 30 career games for the Mustangs (10-1), but the plays she makes endear her to anyone who understands her position.
'It's my favorite position on the field because that's what I played for the most part growing up, and I love the position because you're right in the thick of it,' Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. 'It just takes somebody with a really strong mindset and somebody that's not afraid to get in on tackles and somebody who just give you their best effort every game.
'And that's exactly what Emma does.'
Strcic put those talents to good use during the BodyArmor championship game on Sunday. The Mustangs held previously unbeaten Wheaton Warrenville South to just three shots and won 2-1 in La Grange.
The Tigers (9-1-2) rarely had the ball in their offensive third because Strcic disrupted their attack by constantly winning tackles, doing the literal dirty work that left her with a sweaty jersey and muddy knees.
'She was just a bulldog out there today,' Whaley said. 'She was in our midfield, keeping our intensity up and winning tackles and keeping the ball in their half when we could. Loved it.'
So did Metea Valley junior midfielder Mckenna Wigfield, an SIU-Edwardsville commit who scored the winning goal Sunday.
'I love her,' Wigfield said. 'She's probably the most composed player on the field. She works so hard. She's not afraid to go into tackles, and she's really good about switching the field and having her head up, like knowing what she's going to do with the ball before she receives it.'
If Strcic's name sounds familiar, that could be because her older sister, Riley, played the same position for the Mustangs and was a junior on the 2022 Class 3A state championship team.
'She was a big role model,' Strcic said. 'I didn't get to play with her my freshman year because I was still on a club team that didn't allow me to play.
'But the year after she graduated, I was just really excited — not to fill her shoes but make my own path at the same position.'
While that position is far from glamorous and even further from the spotlight, Strcic enjoys the intricacies. She is the oil that keeps the Mustangs' high-powered attack humming while greasing the skids of opponent's offenses.
'I really like seeing the whole field, and the whole field is basically in front of me,' Strcic said. 'I can run the field, basically. I can get the ball and swing it this way. I can dictate play whichever way I want.'
Strcic also gets to attempt to dictate which way her marks go. She said that's also among her strengths.
'When there is a target forward, I'm always stuck on them, just 1v1 defending,' she said. 'And then distributing the ball, getting the ball to one side or the other and keeping possession.'
While Strcic and her sister differ in styles of play, there are interesting parallels in the arc of their prep careers. Strcic is a junior on a team that features a potent offense.
Metea Valley has won 10 consecutive games since its season-opening 1-0 loss to Oswego, which is 13-2-2. The Mustangs boast a bevy of senior stars, including forwards Isabelle Leofanti, Chloe Birch and Lily Senese and attacking midfielder Olivia Hernandez, so hopes are high that they can repeat the 2022 team's success.
'We have a really talented team,' Strcic said. 'Our team chemistry and the amount that we work for each other is crazy.
'This weekend our seniors all had prom, but they came back and they worked so hard. We really trust everyone, and we really lean on each other.'
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Chicago Tribune
2 days 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.'
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Brandon Marano rallies Mundelein like no other. As a hitter, catcher and emotional leader, ‘he anchors us.'
The moment wasn't too big for Mundelein senior catcher Brandon Marano, not by a long shot. The bases were loaded when Marano faced Palatine senior left-hander Toby Peterson, a Kentucky recruit, in the first inning of the Class 4A Palatine Regional championship game on Saturday. 'Walking up to the plate felt very surreal,' Marano said. 'I did my normal routine, took a deep breath and knew to be ready. It was the first pitch, and I saw that it was middle-middle. I didn't swing as hard as I could and was just thinking to get the bat on the ball and it'll go.' In fact, it went all the way to the fence in right-center field for a bases-clearing double. Marano's hit was the first salvo in what became an eight-run inning in Mundelein's 8-4 win. 'As I was rounding first and heading for second, I picked up coach at third and looked back at the fans and saw them going crazy,' Marano said. 'I knew it would get all three in. 'After all the hard work and effort I've put in over the last 12 years, it came down to that moment, making everyone happy and knowing that I did that. I did it for more than just me.' The Mustangs (24-10-2) have been the beneficiaries of the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Marano's good deeds all season as he has developed into a steady offensive force, most often hitting fifth in the lineup, and helped guide a deep, talented pitching staff. 'Pitchers have confidence in his ability to smother pitches in the dirt, and he still keeps improving on the communication side in being able to help navigate the staff through games,' Mundelein coach Randy Lerner said. On Saturday, Marano's defensive prowess accounted for three outs on the base paths. He threw out one runner at second base on a steal attempt, did the same after blocking a ball in the dirt that trickled a few feet away, and back-picked a runner who got caught in no man's land between first and second. 'My hit catalyzed the energy we had, but I had one of my best defensive games too,' Marano said. Heading into a Stevenson Sectional semifinal matchup against North Suburban Conference rival Lake Zurich on Wednesday, Marano is hitting .347 with a .445 on-base percentage and a team-best 32 RBIs. The double against Palatine was his 14th of the season, and he also has a triple and two home runs. Marano had a similar batting average last season but far fewer at-bats. He took hold of the starting job in the second half of the season, a positive step that left him wanting much more. 'One big difference from last spring to now is that I felt like I had to prove myself,' Marano said. 'At the end of the day, I wasn't where I wanted to be. I still had to get my extra work in at the gym, and I still had to get extra swings in. 'All of the time, energy and emotion I put into the game is paying off.' Emotion is a big part of Marano's contributions to the Mustangs, not only in how he works with pitchers but also in how he makes sure everyone in the dugout is invested. 'He's kind of our glue guy,' Mundelein senior pitcher Joey Kafka said. 'Even my parents will say that things are completely different when he's not around. He anchors us down as a team.' Emotion came into play in a different way during Mundelein's game against crosstown rival Carmel on May 1. Marano went through his typical game-day routine, going home during a free period to grab his baseball gear. On this day, he was met by his parents, who were sitting on the couch waiting for him. They told him their 12-year-old dog, Wrigley, had to be put to sleep. When Marano returned to school, he learned he would catch for only part of the game. So as he went to the plate with the bases loaded and the Mustangs trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning, he knew it would likely be his last at-bat. 'The first pitch was a curve that he hung, and I hit it over the left-center field fence,' Marano said. 'I think it was the first home run I had hit since I was like 12. 'When I stepped on home, I leaped into Baris Brua's arms and hugged him. I let all the emotion out.' The Mustangs rallied to win 10-6. Not every game has been so noteworthy, but Marano's work with Mundelein's pitchers behind the scenes has had a significant impact on them. 'He didn't start the whole year last year, and I think he took that personally,' Kafka said. 'He's pretty much caught all of us since we were like 8, and he worked his tail off this offseason, catching all of our bullpens twice a week. He recognizes when our pitches are a little off, and he's the first one to tell us.' Marano, who will attend Tennessee, won't play college baseball. He may join a club team but knows it won't be the same as what he has experienced at Mundelein. His constant companion through it all has been his catching equipment. 'I wouldn't be the player I am today without catching,' Marano said. 'If you do something good at catcher, everyone sees it, and it can work against you, too, if you do something wrong. But I love that about the position. 'I'm putting everything I have into the game right now.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Northport superintendent dies from same ocean incident that killed teen
Jun. 2—The Mustangs played the baseball game for Noah. They lost both. And days later, they lost their coach. The Northport Mustangs, the team representing the town of about 300 people in northern Stevens County, moved forward in the state playoffs last month by beating Riverside Christian High School on May 20 to advance to the quarterfinals of the State 1B Baseball tournament to take on Naselle High School in southwestern Washington. The night before the game on May 24, the team ordered some pizzas, and Coach Don Baribault, who doubles as the Northport School District superintendent, took the team bus to get them, said Erik Stark, who is Northport High School's athletic director. "Some of the kids had never seen the ocean," Stark said. "They swung by the beach" at Long Beach, and some of the players got into the water. The detour unraveled in moments. Noah Heberling, a 15-year-old from Kettle Falls, got carried out by large waves in the cold water. "He kind of got tossed around," said Stark, who was not there but relayed the details of what happened. "A couple of the other kids went out to get him." The other players reached Noah, who held on to them as they worked their way back to the beach. Noah then turned and saw a big wave coming and apparently let go so he could plug his nose as the wave hit, Stark said. "They lost contact," he said. "The coaches went in after him." The coaches were Baribault and Noah's father, Ronnie Heberling. Noah was bobbing, being pulled out to sea, and the cold water began to drain the energy from the coaches trying to reach him, Stark said. "Don went out, and I think he made contact with Noah. But both of them had succumbed to hypothermia and weren't functioning," he said. A local bystander instantly recognized the danger and called 911, Stark said. According to the Seattle Times, that rescue call was made about 8 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard crew members raced to the scene on a Jet Ski. They were able to pull Baribault and Ronnie Heberling to shore, but Noah's body has yet to be found, Stark said. "That's our prayer now," that Noah's body is found "for closure," Stark said. But the tragedy continued. "Don was struggling on the beach. They took him to the hospital. Then he was flown to a Portland hospital," Stark said. "That's where he succumbed." Baribault died "peacefully and surrounded by his family on May 26," according to the statement shared by Northport School District. But before that second blow struck, the team had a decision to make. Noah drowned on Friday, May 23. The game against Naselle was scheduled for 1 p.m. the next day. "The kids met with the adults, who asked, 'What do you want to do: Go home or go play this game?' They said Noah wouldn't want them to quit, so they played the game," Stark said as he cried. "They did it to honor their fallen comrade." The Mustangs fell in the quarterfinals game 25-4. "I wasn't there. But I have a feeling it was pretty hard for them," he said. When the players returned to Northport, the locals came out to support the fallen Mustangs and Noah's family. "That Sunday night, after Noah had passed, they had a candlelight vigil on the baseball field," Stark said. "We had over 200 people. We only have 300 people in our whole town. So, it was a big deal." Since the vigil, Noah's aunt, Marci Bair, set up a GoFundMe page to help the family. As of Monday afternoon, some $46,000 had been donated. "I just want to thank everybody who has reposted and donated to Denise and Ronnie," Marcy Bair wrote on the page. "It is a beautiful thing to see how many people care and have helped at this time filled with grief, pain and the of the loss of such an awesome Grandson. "Noah was a gentleman, kind, caring, smart and talented," Bair continued. "Noah will be in our hearts forever and our love for him will never fade." The double tragedy has even further victims. Don Baribault's son, senior Dawson Baribault, was the winning pitcher in the win over Riverside Christian. He allowed only one run on three hits and struck out 13 batters. He pitched a complete game for the Mustang's 8-1 win on May 20. A three-time league MVP, Dawson Baribault was scheduled to pitch against Naselle. But he was with his father at the hospital and missed the game, Stark said. Dawson Baribault is scheduled to graduate with his classmates on Saturday. For the rest of the students, school officials have brought in counselors and have given plenty of latitude for kids to take time to deal with their losses. "I think the high school has been impacted the most," Stark said. "There's been a lot of talking and sharing stories. In English class, they are reading a play to take their minds off of it." The town recently lost a teacher to cancer and a 5-year-old boy to an accident in the past, but the level of pain from Noah's drowning and attempted rescue has rocked the Mustang family like nothing else, Stark said. "I think it's the worst of the worst," Stark said. "Just the fact that you lose two at once, with one who literally died trying to save a kid."
