Stagg sophomore Gabby Janski is as sure-handed and strong-armed as it gets playing third base.
But she does occasionally lose track of things.
Like her mask, for instance, when she flipped it off to make a big play on a pop-up in the final inning Thursday afternoon against Reavis.
“I was so afraid I was going to step over it,” Janski said, smiling. “I didn’t know exactly where I threw the mask.”
She missed the mask but caught the ball. Janski then made another splendid play to end the game, closing out an 11-9 nonconference season-opening win for the host Chargers in Palos Hills.
Kaylin Silva, Holly Jirka and Audra Zukowski each had three hits for Stagg (1-0). One of Silva’s hits was a three-run triple.
Leticia Solis went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a walk for Reavis (0-1). Lily Fish added three hits, while Kenzie Welsh, Mia Barriga and Jocelyn Martinez came through with two hits apiece.
Janski’s stellar defense saved the day for winning pitcher Grace DeYoung. Her catch on the tricky pop-up froze Reavis’ runner at first bases. With two on and two outs, Janski snagged a hot grounder toward the hole on one hop and stepped on third base for the force.
Not bad for a kid who wasn’t exactly enamored with the hot corner, especially when called on to play it during her freshman season at Stagg.
“At the beginning of last season, I was originally a third baseman for my travel team and Gabby was a first baseman,” said Jirka, who was a fellow freshman. “When she played third base, she was always complaining about how much she hated it.
“Now, she’s going crazy there and she’s in love with it.”
Love?
“Maybe,” Janski said. “I enjoy the exposure to all of the different positions.”
Janski can play third base, first base and catcher. She’s also working on her pitching skills to help provide depth in the circle.
Last season, she was one of the top freshmen in the Southland. She batted .402 with six home runs, 28 RBIs and a .780 slugging percentage.
She didn’t waste any time proving her worth to Stagg coach Kelly Dwyer.
“I don’t know if it was during tryouts or right around that time,” Dwyer said. “I remember her smoking one over the fence with just a half-swing. I think she went opposite field. I was like, ‘All right, well, there really is not much we can do but put her in our lineup.’
“Gabby is so athletic. And she puts the work in. She’s not afraid to go through all of those fundamental drills over and over. Then when it’s game time, there is just a natural flow and ability. She’s just one of those kids who have a natural talent and make you enjoy watching them play.”
Her first career high school home run came in a mid-April home game last spring against Bloom. It was a storyteller’s dream.
Janski hit a ball down the left field line that cleared the fence by plenty. When the umpire ruled it a foul ball, Janski didn’t take it very well.
“It was arguably fair, called foul,” Dwyer said. “I could see why she’d be naturally upset. But when she looked at me I said, ‘Well, if it bothers you that much, let’s see you do it again.”
Two pitches later, Janski sent a long fly over the fence in center field. No arguing this time.
“I can’t deny I was a little upset,” Janski said, laughing. “When I got it, what made it special was that it was here. I’d hit home runs at other fields (in travel), but here the home experience made it so much better.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
