Natalie Muellner explains rubber toy chickens hanging from Oswego's dugout. It's a win-win. ‘They keep multiplying.'

Chicago Tribune

16-05-2025

The question had to be asked, and senior outfielder Natalie Muellner provided the answer.
What's up with the rubber toy chickens hanging from the chain-link fence protecting Oswego's dugout each game, home or away?
Their number seems to be growing.
'The first one has a Dave & Buster's shirt on it that's orange and blue,' Muellner said. 'I said, 'Oh my gosh, it's perfect. It's our school colors.' We found it on our (spring break trip) to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and I thought it would be kind of funny to put it up there.
'We kept on getting more of them and I was like, 'We should get one for every win we get.' And they keep multiplying.'
So, it's not mystery chicken, it's victory chicken. That number hit a milestone Thursday with Oswego's 5-1 Southwest Prairie Conference win at home over Yorkville.
The Panthers (29-1, 13-1) tied the program record for wins in a season set last spring when they finished third in the state in Class 4A.
'It's a big one,' Oswego co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi said. 'Hopefully, there's a lot more to go.'
With two regular-season games remaining — Monday at Minooka and Wednesday vs. Oswego East at home — the Panthers hold a one-game lead over Minooka (21-9 12-2) in conference.
Winning pitcher Jaelynn Anthony (13-0) threw a two-hitter Thursday in hot, blustery conditions, with the wind blowing in from right field.
'That was tough,' Scaramuzzi said. 'We had at least two balls that normally would have gone out on any other day stay in. That changes the ball game because we're a long ball team.
'We had to produce at the plate in different ways.'
It was an adventure for Anthony, a junior right-hander who struck out 10 but walked seven and hit two batters.
Singles by senior shortstop Bella Phillips and junior third baseman Brooke Ekwinski were the only hits for the Foxes (17-10, 8-6).
'We needed that one clutch hit that would have scored a couple runs and swung momentum,' Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said.
Anthony aided her cause with three singles and senior first baseman Rikka Ludvigson added a two-run single.
'I never worry when she's out there,' Scaramuzzi said of Anthony, who walked in Yorkville's lone run in the first inning without giving up a hit. 'I know she's gonna figure it out, settle in, and she did just that.'
Iowa-bound senior catcher Kiyah Chavez did have an amazing streak end for Oswego, taking a called third strike from freshman reliever Isabella Rosauer in the bottom of the sixth.
It's the first strikeout in nearly two full years for Chavez, the 2024 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year who didn't strike out last season and had none this spring entering the game.
'Kiyah's the best hitter in the state and I'm confident in that statement,' Scaramuzzi said.
But back to Muellner. The Wisconsin-Whitewater commit does much more than organize fowl play.
She cracked the starting lineup midway through last season and finished hitting .327 with three home runs. The last of those provided the highlight of her career in a 2-1 state semifinal loss to St. Charles North. This spring, she's hitting .344 with three homers, four doubles and 21 RBIs.
Scaramuzzi gets a kick out of the chicken collection.
'This is a silly team,' she said. 'They like to have a lot of fun, and that's kind of what just happened. This team plays its best when they're having fun.'
The practice may be a little weird, Chavez agreed, but she noted there is precedence.
Yorkville players took Wilbur the rally pig all the way to Peoria, earning a state runner-up finish in 2023 and still have it with them in the dugout every game.
'Oswego East had some kind of horse once, too,' Chavez said. 'It adds character to the team.'