Deciding whether to test Naperville Central right fielder Fiona Brown depends on where you are on the field.
If you’re on base, it would be foolish to run on the strong-armed sophomore. If you hit the ball to the right side, you’d better sprint even if it gets through the infield.
“She’s got a great arm,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said.
Nussbaum pointed to a play Brown made during the Redhawks’ 4-3 win against Benet on Thursday.
“On a fly ball to right field, she threw a runner out tagging at second and going to third,” Nussbaum said. “The ball never hit the ground.”
Brown was at it again on Friday. With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the fourth inning, a ball was hit sharply to right for what appeared to be visiting Waubonsie Valley’s second hit of the DuPage Valley Conference game.
But Brown charged the ball and threw a strike to Naperville Central sophomore first baseman Lacie Williams to retire the batter.
“I definitely knew there was a possibility that she could do it because I have so much confidence in her when it comes to her arm,” Naperville Central junior pitcher Avery Miller said of Brown. “Once I saw the pick and (the umpire) called the out, I literally jumped up and down for her.”
There was much for Miller and the Redhawks to get excited about. Miller pitched a one-hit shutout with no walks and 11 strikeouts, while Brown hit an RBI single and scored during a four-run third inning as Naperville Central won 4-0 in Naperville.
“I love Fiona,” Miller said. “She’s a great person defensively and offensively.
“I can definitely rely on her if anything is hit to her, especially because I like to do outside pitches. So if they barrel it up, I know that she’s there to catch them.”
The 5-foot-10 Brown catches nearly everything that comes her way. As a freshman, she made only one error in 38 total chances and had two assists.
Brown has been even better this season. She has handled 25 chances flawlessly and has thrown out three runners on the bases.
“I put a lot of work in,” Brown said. “Me and Lacie have practiced those throws a ton, and honestly it was really her pick that did it.
“She is an amazing first baseman. She is adapting so well. She does not play first, and she picked up that position, and we really can use her there.”
The Redhawks (8-5, 4-0) can use Brown’s bat too. After hitting .222 with six RBIs in 31 games as a freshman, she has stepped up at the plate. Nussbaum put Brown in the No. 3 spot in the batting order, and she has responded by hitting .324 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and 11 runs. She shares the team lead in home runs with Miller.
“She’s so much more confident,” Nussbaum said. “When girls are freshmen, they aren’t always super confident. A lot of times they haven’t played with girls this much older than they are.
“She’s far more comfortable this year and is doing a better job for us.”
In the third inning against the Warriors (7-6, 2-2), junior center fielder Cali Lenz singled, went to third on senior shortstop Natalie Lau’s bunt single and scored on Brown’s sharp single to left.
Williams then singled to right to drive in Lau. On the throw home, Williams advanced to second, beating a tag, and Brown raced home from third to score the third run.
“For a tall girl, she might be one of the top three girls on the team speed-wise,” Nussbaum said of Brown. “I tried to get her to play basketball, but no luck.”
Brown is the first member of her family to play softball. In her second varsity season, she’s confident she belongs.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” she said. “I have great coaches. I have great teammates. It’s easy to want to go out and perform for them.
“But last year I think I just put too much pressure on myself. Now my mental mindset is really good.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
