Sophomore Amelia Pytel is excited to contribute to the Riverside Brookfield High School softball team any way possible. For the Bulldogs’ home game against rival Lyons Township Saturday, that meant starting at second base rather than her usual role as pitcher.
“I love that I’m able to do different things to help out my team,” Pytel said. “We all can work together and move to different positions.”
The Bulldogs used a team effort to win 6-3 and improve to 2-0. Abby Weinert (2 for 3, two-run double) and Pytel (2 for 4, RBI double) led a nine-hit attack in which seven Bulldogs got at least one hit. Seven players also had at least one hit in the 8-1 season-opening win over Oak Park and River Forest, March 19.
“A whole team effort,” RBHS coach Emma Jarrell said. “There are 15 girls who are very good at softball so everyone has been contributing and doing good things for us.”
Pytel did pitch the last three innings in relief of winning starter Reese Milchhoefer. Last season, Pytel had an 11-3 record and earned honorable mention all-conference.
“I’m so happy to be back with everyone and how we get to start off with how we ended (last) season,” Pytel said. “I feel like I come in with more confidence because my teams helps me so much. They bring me confidence because I know they have my back in the field.”
Weinert’s two-run double in a three-run third inning scored Kate Hamilton and Pytel for a 4-2 lead after Hamilton singled to score Mia Melendez. In the fourth, Pytel’s RBI double followed a double by Trinity Stevenson. In the fifth, Sophia Runquist’s RBI single followed a double by pinch-hitter Kennedy Holakovsky for a 6-3 lead.
For the Lions (2-1), junior first baseman Mary Sandman homered and doubled and Ava Jacklin homered. It was Sandman’s first varsity homer since freshman year.
“That was super-exciting. I usually can’t hit the high balls,” Sandman said. “Something just was connecting. I felt really comfortable in the (batter’s) box. I also felt really confident in the teammates behind me so I just had the extra confidence boost.”