Latest news with #Zee-Bees
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Zion-Benton's Sam White overcomes one injury after another. Surgeries too. ‘I learned to push through it.'
This season is like an entirely new ballgame for Zion-Benton's Sam White. The junior shortstop didn't have surgery in the offseason, a first for her in high school. In fact, White's injury history is an extensive one. 'The injuries have really upset me because I've had so many starting when I was 12 and had major knee surgery,' she said. White had surgery on her throwing arm for elbow and shoulder injuries in each of the previous two offseasons. She also suffered a stress fracture in her back last summer but didn't need surgery. White joked that she hasn't played any other sports at Zion-Benton because 'I probably would get injured.' But she proudly pointed out that when the season starts, she's ready to play. 'I still never missed any games because of all my injuries,' she said. 'I learned to push through it. I wanted to keep improving and not let a setback end everything.' Indeed, White has become a highly productive player for the Zee-Bees. A third-year starter, White is batting .400 with a .480 on-base percentage and six RBIs, and she has an .889 fielding percentage. White knows how to rise to the occasion too. She went 3-for-3 at the plate and handled all of her chances at shortstop during Zion-Benton's North Suburban Conference loss to first-place Warren on Monday. 'She hit the ball really well and also showcased incredible defensive skills at shortstop against Warren,' Zion-Benton coach Tina Meyer said. 'Balls were hit all over the field, but Sam was everywhere making play after play. She finished the game with a flawless defensive performance.' White and Meyer both said that was one of the best all-around games White has played for the Zee-Bees. 'The Warren game was really fun,' White said. 'I was able to really hit well and keep my mindset strong even with two strikes to help the team. I was able to get a lot of diving plays at short. I definitely was more confident in that game.' Meyer said White is even more valuable to the team than her production suggests. 'She consistently gives 110% effort day in and day out,' Meyer said. 'Her primary position is shortstop, but she's always willing to step into any role the team needs without hesitation. Her versatility makes her a valuable asset on the field. 'Beyond her skills, Sam is someone we can always count on to be one of the first to arrive and be ready to help out in any way she can. Her dedication truly sets her apart.' Zion-Benton junior pitcher/third baseman Ashlyn Totsch also noted White's nonstop motor. 'Sam always goes for the ball, no matter where it is,' Totsch said. 'She consistently puts her best foot forward at shortstop and doesn't let errors get in the way of making the next play. On the bases, she is fast and smart and takes advantage of any mistakes the defense makes.' Zion-Benton senior center fielder Sidney Carlson said White is a caring teammate too. 'Sam has a great way of making people feel confident in themselves and supported,' Carlson said. White, who said she has a 4.58 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America, also coaches one of Zion-Benton's feeder teams. 'I really enjoy feeder because there's a lot of different personalities,' she said. 'It's a very different environment. I also like doing a lot of community service hours. I like to keep busy.' White is determined to keep playing too. 'I always try to give my full effort on the field, push myself and not worry about injuries,' she said. 'I'm still going to give 100% effort.'
Chicago Tribune
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Andrew Mitchell gives Zion-Benton a ‘real opportunity at winning.' But first, he had to fail.
Andrew Mitchell surprised people at Zion-Benton baseball tryouts two years ago. A freshman at the time, Mitchell immediately impressed Zee-Bees coach Tim Schiappacasse, and he wasn't the only one. 'We hadn't heard of him coming up, but on the first day of tryouts, I was sitting with one of my captains at the time,' Schiappacasse said. 'As soon as Drew started throwing, he turned to me and said, 'He's coming to varsity, right?' That was the first flash from him.' There have been many others since that positive first impression as Mitchell became a pitcher that the Zee-Bees trusted to be on the mound in important situations. But he needed to be convinced that he wasn't being moved along too quickly. 'Playing with such older kids, I didn't know what to expect, and I remember thinking to myself, 'This is going to be a very difficult level,'' Mitchell said. 'But when the first game came, I saw the other pitcher, and he didn't seem like anything so different from me. That helped make me feel like I could fit in.' After an up-and-down freshman season, which included closing out North Suburban Conference rival Waukegan in the annual Battle at Bowen, Mitchell posted a 3.84 ERA and struck out 61 in 54 2/3 innings as Zion-Benton's ace last year. He showed good control with 3.2 strikeouts per walk. So Mitchell considers that debut season a solid foundation. 'It was good that I got hit around because I still had to develop,' he said. 'It made me better for my sophomore year because you have to learn from bad experiences. The step I took last year, a lot of that was from failing as a freshman. It wasn't as much of a physical thing, but more of a mental step.' It became obvious to Schiappacasse that Mitchell was pitching with much more confidence last season. 'He really started to compete last year,' Schiappacasse said. 'Every conference game he pitched, we had a real opportunity at winning. It's been fun to see him evolve as a pitcher.' Mitchell's evolution continues. No longer 'just throwing the ball,' as he described his approach during his freshman season, the junior right-hander has a rationale for throwing each pitch, and he is much more cognizant of game situations and the need to be as efficient as possible. Schiappacasse saw Mitchell's progress during Zion-Benton's 13-0 season-opening win against Round Lake on March 18. Mitchell threw a five-inning complete game, scattering three hits and striking out nine. Mitchell's first pitch was roped on a line to left field. The ball was caught for an out, but Mitchell took note. 'You could see him adapt to that first swing and figure out what he needed to do,' Schiappacasse said. Mitchell, who is 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA after two starts this season, also struck out nine in a complete-game effort during Zion-Benton's 8-3 win against Hoffman Estates on Monday. He recognizes the strides he has made. 'It's the IQ of pitching, stuff I hadn't even thought of before,' he said. 'You don't need to strike everyone out. A groundout to third is just fine. And if I fall behind, you're not getting a BP fastball. Those could turn into doubles or home runs.' Mitchell's success shouldn't come as a surprise. His father Derek, a 1993 Waukegan graduate, was a member of the U.S. national team in 1995, played in the minor leagues for three organizations over seven seasons and then trained local players for nearly 20 years. Derek Mitchell is on Zion-Benton's coaching staff, which allows him to share some of the knowledge he accrued over the years and to get a close-up view as his sons, including sophomore pitcher Jake Mitchell, develop as players. 'I don't put any extra pressure on him,' Derek Mitchell said of Andrew. 'I just want him to go out and compete and be a good teammate. 'I've been blessed that both of my sons are very coachable. I've never had to drag them onto the field. I've found over the years that when kids don't want to get better and they're forced into trying, they plateau fast.' That's not the case with Andrew Mitchell, who has heeded his father's advice. 'He's taught me so much, and he stresses more about the mental side than the physical side,' Andrew Mitchell said. 'He understands every situation from his baseball experience. 'He stresses how important it is how you react to failure. If you have a bad game, how do you move on to tomorrow? Those are things that I've tried to improve on.'
