Brooklyn Oostman has much to celebrate. Torn ACL behind her, she punches Hanover Central's ticket to state.

Chicago Tribune

2 days ago

Hanover Central's Brooklyn Oostman fully enjoyed her most recent celebration.
The junior outfielder delivered the go-ahead triple against defending Class 3A state champion Western, which was ranked No. 3 in the state coaches poll, in the top of ninth inning in the final of the Twin Lakes Semistate on June 7.
'It was amazing,' Oostman said. 'I went up to my at-bat, and I was like, 'All right, we're going to start hacking away. I have to put the ball in play.'
'I swung and missed at my first two strikes, and I was like, 'I have to put the ball in play,' and I did. That's all that my focus was.'
Coach Sam Antkiewicz wasn't surprised Oostman came through in the clutch for the Wildcats, whose 2-1 victory propelled them into the state championship game. Hanover Central (18-12) will play No. 1 Indianapolis Cathedral (28-2) at Purdue's Bittinger Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday.
'She's had some big hits for us,' Antkiewicz said. 'She's been batting No. 3 for us in the order. She hit the line drive to right field on Saturday in that second game that allowed our go-ahead run to score.
'When she hits it, she can hit it as hard as anybody.'
Two years ago, toward the end of Oostman's freshman season on the junior varsity team, she hit the ball hard for a home run. Celebrating it, she suffered an injury in her left knee.
'We thought I hyperextended it, and then I got an MRI, and I tore my ACL and had a partial meniscus tear,' she said.
'We're chillin' now. Playing my life. Just play every game like it's going to be my last — that's what I learned from that.'
Oostman, who also plays volleyball and basketball at Hanover Central, had surgery in early June 2023 and was sidelined for nine months. She was cleared to play just days before tryouts in her sophomore season.
Oostman played sparingly but grew.
'Seeing the field from a different aspect, being in the dugout more and watching plays unravel when I'm not a part of them, definitely gave me more knowledge about the game,' she said. 'I could see different aspects like 'next time I can do this or maybe do this differently' and learn things from a different view.'
Oostman has been squarely in the mix this season. She's hitting .352 with five homers, which ranks second on the team behind junior catcher Sienna Stilley's 16, along with 31 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
'I've just made sure to keep my composure all season,' Oostman said. 'Just stay working hard. Every practice, you have to practice like it's going to be your last game. Just keep pushing yourself to the most you can. Especially on a competitive team like ours, there are no letups. You have to keep pushing yourself.
'This year was a whole different world. I played the field. I was hitting all the time. It's definitely been a fun season for me.'
Oostman has helped make the season fun for the Wildcats.
'She brings a lot of energy to the team,' Hanover Central senior shortstop Sienna Antkiewicz said. 'She cheers for everybody. She picks us up. It was good to see her get that hit (against Western) and get some of the spotlight on her. She deserves it.'
The spotlight will be on the Wildcats on Saturday, when they will try to add to the Class 2A state title they won in 2004.
'It's amazing,' Oostman said. 'We never thought we would get there. Just knowing that we've made it this far in the season, it's crazy to think about. But we're playing for each other. We're thinking about our seniors and playing together more as a team and supporting one another no matter what happens in the game. That's played a big part in the season.
'We have a lot of momentum because we weren't expected to even make it out of sectionals. More than ever, we have a point to prove this season. We didn't take no for an answer in any game.'