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Chicago Tribune
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Ace pitcher Paige Murray swings pretty mean bat for St. Charles North. In limited at-bats too. ‘A new role for me?'
Who knew? For standout pitcher Paige Murray, there's more to her game than simply throwing the ball and occasionally catching it while fielding her position flawlessly for St. Charles North. Apparently, see the ball and hit the ball should be factored into the equation as well. 'She hasn't hit in three years,' veteran North Stars coach Tom Poulin said of Murray, his senior ace. 'Every year I tell her, 'I'm gonna let you hit.' She has a beautiful swing.' And every year, Poulin said assistant coach Thijs Dennison talks Poulin out of it, arguing that Murray is too valuable in the circle. Seeing was believing Friday, with Murray emerging as the pitching and hitting star for host St. Charles North in a 2-1 DuKane Conference win over crosstown rival St. Charles East. Murray fired a three-hitter, striking out 10 and walking two for the North Stars (9-3, 3-1). One of those hits was a solo home run by junior outfielder Lexi Majkszak that rode the wind blowing out to left field leading off the second inning that tied the score at 1-1. 'It doesn't blow out here often,' Murray said. 'But you never know what the weather is gonna be. I have to come out and trust my spin. If they hit it, my defense usually had my back.' Sophomore third baseman Julianna Kouba produced an RBI single in the first inning to give a 1-0 lead to Murray. It scored senior outfielder Mackenzie Patterson, a Loyola recruit who had doubled. Junior right-hander Makayla Van Dinther stuck out eight and gave up six hits and two walks in taking the loss for the Saints (9-9, 0-3). In the third, Murray drove a two-out blast over the head of the Saints' right fielder that one-hopped against the fence for a double and scored Kouba, who had singled, with the decisive run. 'Could that be a new role for me?' said Murray, who's hitting .407 in 27 at-bats after stepping to the plate just 17 times in last season's second state Class 4A championship run in three years. Murray starred in a key relief role as a freshman when the North Stars won the state title. 'Makayla does a great job and was moving the ball everywhere,' Murray said of her game-winning hit off Van Dinther. 'I just saw my pitch outside and I took it there.' Meanwhile, Murray intentionally walked junior catcher Hayden Sujack after falling behind in the count with one out against the St. Charles East slugger with a runner already aboard. Senior right fielder Ivy Gleeson also made an outstanding diving catch that probably saved a run. 'That was amazing,' Murray said. 'She's a great outfielder.' The South Carolina-bound Sujack, who also drew a second walk, explained what makes Murray so tough. 'The knowledge she has,' Sujack said of Murray. 'In a count, she knows exactly what to throw and she just executes it almost every time. 'Obviously, there's room for error, but what I like to say is she misses with intention. She does a fantastic job of that, and the help of Thijs calling the game helps. His knowledge is amazing.' Poulin, pleased about getting the rivalry win, is happy for any win in the DuKane Conference. The North Stars finished third in conference last year and still won the state title. 'This conference is so loaded, a win against anybody is huge,' he said. 'I was looking at some state rankings today and there were four of us in the top 10 and six in the top 30. That's crazy.' How much hitting Murray continues to do remains to be seen, but her pitching will continue. 'She's just mentally strong and tough,' Poulin said of Murray. 'Whether it's a positive or a negative outcome, she moves on to the next hitter. She's gritty and experienced. 'I don't have the words for Paige. She's unreal to me.'
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With the addition of pitcher Jill Ondrick, Weymouth softball accelerates its ascension
Finally, a breakthrough – 11 victories in 2024 secured a postseason berth. The arrival of Jill Ondrick , a two-time Globe All-Scholastic committed to South Carolina, stamps the Wildcats' legitimacy. 'Last year was to build their confidence,' said fifth-year Weymouth coach Vanessa Haen . 'This year, they don't need that. They recognize that they can play.' Ondrick, the Catholic Central League MVP last year at Archbishop Williams, hit .411 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs at the plate and fanned 227 in 127 innings, posting a 1.16 ERA last season. Advertisement Now a junior, Ondrick decided to transfer back to public school, reuniting with her hometown friends. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Playing club for the highly touted Louisville Sluggers 18U Huecker team on the national circuit, Ondrick reached 69 miles per hour from the circle, equivalent to over 100 m.p.h. from the baseball mound. Flamethrower? Absolutely. But there's far more to her game. Described as the hardest worker in the room by Haen, Ondrick trains tirelessly. She's determined to surpass her home run record and altered her vertical movement pitches, specifically her riser and drop ball. 'I feel like I've come a long way with my work ethic and being productive,' said Ondrick, who drew motivation from seeing high-level athletes at travel tournaments. 'At times, I'd want to get better and work harder, but it was harder to focus on work on the things that I'd need to. I've gotten so much better at going outside and hitting or going inside to pitch.' Advertisement South Carolina-bound junior Jill Ondrick struck out 227 batters in 127 innings last season. Barry Chin/Globe Staff The lone senior on the team, catcher Paige Sellon , trained with Ondrick four times a week in the offseason. Committed to Mass Maritime, Sellon needed to be prepared for the spin and velocity that Ondrick delivers. 'Most people don't play on a team with someone who's committed to South Carolina,' said Sellon. 'She's definitely going to make everyone better.' The workouts aided Ondrick, on and off the field. After all, they were teammates beginning in third grade. 'She was one of my biggest supporters when I was coming back to Weymouth,' said Ondrick. 'She was by my side through it all.' Related : With Ondrick, the sky could be the limit. Sophomore shortstop Bella Pires , who joined the team as an eighth grader after playing baseball all her life, anchors the lineup alongside Ondrick. Pires had to learn the game: throwing a different ball, contrasting bat shapes, even new pants. A Bay State All-Star last season, she's a vocal leader on a team filled with young talent. 'You have to start them young,' said Pires. 'You have to have kids be excited about softball. When they get to varsity, they'll know what they are doing.' Vanessa Hoen leads Weymouth through an indoor practice as they look to improve on last year's 11 wins. Barry Chin/Globe Staff It's been a labor of love for Haen to grow the softball program. It used to be an afterthought, an activity to pick up for two months before leaving the bat and glove to collect dust for 10 months. 'Everyone started to realize that this is a more serious program than it was in past years,' said Pires. 'I could see more of a mentality change in everyone.' Advertisement Now, everyone plays year-round. There's been a mentality shift, buoyed by a collective buy-in. The objective is no longer just to compete — it's to win, and to do it against elite competition. 'Oh, softball, it's the losing team for Weymouth,' said Sellon. 'Now, we're competitive like the baseball team. It's finally a turning point.' It's time to put Weymouth softball on the map. 'The stigma behind what softball used to be here is gone,' said Haen. 'That's not here anymore.' Now in her fifth season, coach Vanessa Hoen has flipped the perception of Weymouth softball. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Extra bases ▪ Coming off its 'Throughout the last couple of weeks, we've found a system where we think we can replicate [last year's success],' coach Nate Farrington said. 'We have a lot of players coming back with experience, who got a taste of what getting that far in the tournament felt like, and we really feel like we can do it again.' Related : Expanded roles for sophomores Kate Suneson and Hailey DaRosa , as well as senior Christina Magnett (a two-time South Coast All-Star), provide a battle-tested presence. Freshman Reese Taylor , who threw four hitless innings and struck out 11 Sarah DelVecchio joins Taylor on the pitching staff, with senior Caleigh Venuti , who is committed to Emmanuel, providing consistency behind the plate. In a deep South Coast Conference that features defending state champions (Dighton-Rehoboth, Joseph Case) and perennial contenders, the road ahead will not be easy. Advertisement 'We play really competitive games throughout the year and that helps everybody,' Farrington added. 'Those are the kind of games and kind of teams we want to play, because that's what's going to continue to make us better.' ▪ It's a new era for Bishop Stang, with Halle Young stepping in as head coach following a 4-win season in 2024. The Spartans picked up their first win under their new skipper with a 20-8 decision over Bourne. ▪ One of the best softball products out of Massachusetts in recent years, 2023 Games to watch Wednesday, No. 17 Attleboro at No. 15 Norton, 3:45 p.m. — Each squad's offense has been firing on all cylinders, but neither has faced a highly-touted opponent. Wednesday, No. 18 Middleboro at No. 14 Apponequet, 4 p.m. — The Sachems look to rebound after an opening setback against Dighton-Rehoboth, while the Lakers aim to earn an early Top 20 win. Friday, No. 11 Bridgewater-Raynham at No. 2 King Philip, 4 p.m. — King Philip will be a difficult out, but don't sleep on these Trojans. Friday, No. 3 Dighton-Rehoboth at No. 1 Taunton, 6 p.m. — An early-season battle of juggernauts and defending state champions takes center stage. Cam Kerry can be reached at
