Early bird Scots softball has 4 HHS grads

HUNTLEY — Mid-March weather and softball schedules usually aren’t compatible, but for one day there was an exception.

While prep teams were in practice time on a day with temps 15 degrees above average, McHenry County College’s team had its season openers at its home diamond in Crystal Lake March 13. MCC swept both games against Sauk Valley, 15-1 and 10-1 in five-inning victories.

“I love it that we got to play today and we started the season playing well,” MCC coach Wally Warner said. “We’ve worked hard all winter and it showed. Our strength is definitely our hitting.”

A contingent of four players who are Huntley alumnae will contribute to the Scots this spring. Class of 2024 members pitcher Emma Halvorson; infielder-outfielder Natalie Lucius; outfielder-infielder Ella Clements and infielder Ella Jakowitch are all freshmen. The 2024-25 Scots junior college sports seasons have included former Huntley standouts in each of the school’s eight sports.

“I’ll take players from Huntley any day,” Warner said. “In fact, all of our players are from McHenry County except one.”

Halvorson got the nod as starting pitcher for the season opener and was the winning pitcher. The lefty, who helped out in the absence of sophomore Eryn McCarthy (Woodstock North alumna), who is out due to a concussion, was in command as she struck out 10 hitters, gave up six hits and three walks.

“I was happy to get to pitch today,” Halvorson said. “I’ve gained some speed on my pitches and worked on my specialty pitches. We work on pitching every day before practice for about 100 pitches a week.”

She started in little league as a second-grader. “I began playing travel softball in eighth grade,” Halvorson said.

Halvorson said she has played softball with her HHS classmates for years and is looking forward to MCC’s season.

While Halvorson took to the circle, Jakowitch played first base at the first game and third base for the second game. She had a double in the second game, and scored two runs with two RBIs. She said the team was fired up to get started.

“It’s amazing, it feels great to get started,” Jakowitch said. “We were all fired up and cheering for each other.”

Third base duties are something new for Jakowitch.

“I started playing third about a year and a half ago. The biggest challenge is the throw, because at first it’s mainly catching the ball,” Jakowitch said.

In the second game, it was Lucius at second base, who made a couple of nice assists on defense. Freshman Zoe Dudek (Cary-Grove) got the start in the circle in game two and pitched the distance, striking out two on a six-hitter for the win.