Oak Lawn Softball Building from the Ground Up

Coaches Brittany Whalen and Pat Mayer looked on at the Spartan Athletic Complex as their freshman softball team played the sophomores in a pseudo-scrimmage Monday afternoon.

There were no umpires. There was no scorekeeping. And there were no formal lineups. Just more opportunities to teach.

Whalen explains where the shortstop should take the throw at second base on a stolen-base attempt, while Mayer tells the left fielder to cover third base when the batter bunts with a runner on first base.

“We have girls who have played in the community, which was kind of nice,” Mayer said. “They came in and had some knowledge already and they’ve really listened to the coaches, especially in a lot of the fundamentals.

“I really think historically we have done very well.”

This group of girls is no different. Backed by solid defense, timely hitting and two good pitchers, the Oak Lawn freshmen have taken their first high school season in stride. They are 14-2 on the season and undefeated in conference play.

Elizabeth Childers and Morgan Jozsa, who also starts at third base, have been Oak Lawn’s primary starting pitchers, while Sam Dillon completes the Spartan battery behind the plate.

Brittany Burns is the primary second baseman. Whalen said the freshman infielder has come up with a lot of clutch hits and has utilized her speed on the basepaths.

Kayla Reichert, Clarissa Cortez, Shelby Trybula, Emily Kozlowski and Hannah Papalco round out the rest of Oak Lawn’s regular starting lineup.

“Right now, we have a really solid group of girls, good support throughout the program with the coaches at the other levels and I feel the program is moving forward,” Whalen said.

Whalen became the head coach two seasons ago when Mayer took the year off. Now Mayer, who had coached at Oak Lawn for more than a decade, has returned as an assistant.

“I think we work well together with the girls," Whalen said. “He helps out a lot with his knowledge and I am learning things from him.”

Even with overwhelming success in only Whalen’s second year, the former Eastern Illinois University pitcher is trying to sustain it over the long haul. Last summer, she ran Oak Lawn’s first softball camp and will do so again after school ends.

Whalen also wants to see more of Oak Lawn’s younger athletes start playing for travel teams. A lot of them play in leagues around Oak Lawn and Burbank, while only a few travel with metro leagues.

“We don’t have any of the big clubs, but I would like them to get out there and get on some of the club teams,” Whalen said. “They definitely have the talent and potential to do so.”

Oak Lawn still has conference games left against Argo and Richards before wrapping up the season with the Mother McAuley Finale tournament, which Whalen says will provide some good competition.

“(The girls) are having fun and they’re learning a lot,” Whalen said. “They’re winning and it’s been a great season all together.”