When can right be wrong? When it’s better to be left.
Senior speedster Olivia Owles learned that when she reached Oswego East, thanks to the vision of a summer coach who suggested she might be better off moving to the other side of the plate and trying her hand as a slapper.
Owles has never run track, but the fleet center fielder definitely has wheels and she’s putting them to good use by putting pressure on opposing defenses for the Wolves.
“My first time batting lefty was my first at-bat of my freshman high school season,” Owles said. “I was a righty my whole life, but my future summer coach suggested I switch because of my speed.
“Power was never really my thing and so being a slapper fit me better as a hitter.”
Owles proved that point Tuesday, batting leadoff and reaching base safely in five of six at-bats to spark Oswego East to an 18-7 nonconference victory over host West Aurora.
Owles, who said she can motor from home to first base in 2.6 seconds “on a good day,” opened a five-run first inning for the Wolves (3-0) with a bunt single. She added two infield slap singles, drew a walk and reached on an infield error.
Carroll-bound senior second baseman Katie Maday followed Owles and reached base three times, twice on bunt singles and once on a triple off the right field fence. Junior shortstop Katie Silva chipped in with three hits and two RBIs as the Wolves took advantage of six errors.
Junior shortstop Bella Marzullo managed four hits, junior center fielder Gracie Del Toro contributed three and junior catcher Macie Spenny added two for the young Blackhawks (1-5), who don’t have a senior on the roster.
Oswego East coach Sarah Davies-Dymanus confirmed that Owles and the softspoken Maday — whom she has dubbed “the silent assassin” — can be interchangeable at the top of the batting order depending on matchups.
“Katie sets it up for the next two hitters to come in and clear the bases,” Davies-Dymanus said. “She’s very reserved but lets the bat talk like she did on that triple.”
Last season, Owles hit .400 and stole 20 bases. She’s looking for even more this spring.
“Olivia has elevated her game quite a bit in the last two years, being able to place that ball a little bit better on her slaps and find holes in the defense to get on base,” Davies-Dymanus said.
“And as soon as she gets on base, we’re getting her around. We’re gunning for more stolen bases this year.”
Maday, meanwhile, batted .416 with 13 steals last season. She has similar aspirations.
“What I think about is just trying to move Olivia up by doing whatever I can,” Maday said.
Oswego East, with 11 returnees from last year’s 20-win team, also should be even stronger.
Owles recalled her start with slapping after a suggestion by Jill Harvey, her future coach with the Orland Park Sparks.
“She was the head of the organization and worked with younger teams as well and had seen me play,” Owles said. “She figured when I got to her team, it would be better for me to be a slapper.
“I was nervous coming into Oswego East and wanted to make a good first impression but knew I wasn’t going to be perfect my first year.”
She began feeling more comfortable by the fall of sophomore year.
“I really enjoy it,” Owles said. “I think it fits me well. Being a slapper is more strategic rather than power.”
She doesn’t believe she will take it to the next level, however.
“I think I just want to go to college and focus on academics,” Owles said. “If I really miss softball, I can go to intramurals.”
