Riverside Brookfield High School senior center fielder Julia Madera’s 2023 softball action consisted of three games over four days.
“I was up to bat and right when I hit the ball, I felt a pop and pain in my right shoulder. I ended up having bursitis and a small labrum tear and was out for the rest of the season,” she said.
“I still went to every game and practice to support my team. During games, I did [stats on] GameChanger. Even though I was hurt, it wasn’t an excuse to not show up for the team.”
Healthy again, Madera is once more among the stat leaders, with a new role this season for the Bulldogs (12-6, 2-1, Metro Suburban Conference).
RBHS beat Larkin 7-1 Saturday for its fourth-straight victory since losing 10-0 in five innings to defending Class 4A state champion Marist, April 13. On Senior Day, May 2, the Bulldogs can avenge their one conference loss at Ridgewood 9-8, April 11.
A four-year varsity player, Madera is hitting .383 with 10 runs batted in, 18 runs scored, and a .906 OPS (On-base Plus Slugging), well ahead of her last full season as the starting center fielder in 2022 (.317, 10 RBIs).
She has two, 3-hit games and at least one hit in all but two games. Starting with Marist, she has moved from the No. 2 spot in the batting order to leadoff.
“My slapping has definitely gotten better [since sophomore year] and I think I gained more confidence and learned how to be a leader while being on varsity,” she said.
“Being out for basically the whole season last year really took a toll on me, so I came into this season with the mindset to just have fun. This is my last year playing softball, and I want to make the most out of it because I know I’m going to miss it a lot.”
The order now has senior Emily Organ switched from leadoff to batting third, junior Ellie Megall up to No. 2 and senior Zoe Levine moving from No. 3 to cleanup.
Levine (.450, 7 home runs, 22 RBIs, 1.017 OPS) and Organ (.523, 5 HR, 23 RBIs, 22 runs, 6 stolen bases) continue to flourish offensively. Megall (.302, 11 RBIs), Trinity Stevenson (.291, 1 HR, 11 RBIs), Ella Jurgens (.261, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 6 stolen bases), Kelley Tyler (.300, 2 HR, 9 RBIs) and Abby Weinert (.375, 8 RBIs) also are excelling for an offense that has reached double-digit runs in eight victories.
“We came into this season with the goal of having energy and focusing on the little things, and I think we have done a good job maintaining that goal,” Madera said.
“I have experienced different teams, and I think this one is the most exciting one yet. We get along so well and there’s never a dull moment.”
