A trip to state. Big, big numbers. All-state and all-area honors. The Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago’s player of the year.
Last season was nothing short of amazing for Providence outfielder Angelina Cole.
Now a senior, the Western Michigan recruit has been taking a wise approach to playing the “Can You Top This” game.
“I just don’t,” Cole said. “I tell myself I need to keep doing me. I feel that I need to impress people. I need to keep doing what I’m doing and not try to overstep myself and keep myself calm.”
She might have been calm, but Cole created plenty of havoc Thursday afternoon for the host Celtics during an 8-6 nonconference win over Homewood-Flossmoor in New Lenox.
Cole went 2-for-3 for Providence (17-4) with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Bella Cortes added two hits, while Bella Olszta and Addisyn Quinlan each scored twice.
Demi Chaney went 3-for-4 with a home run for H-F (9-8). Dakota Hoekstra also homered and Taylor Purchas picked up two hits.
Cole, meanwhile, was quick to answer the question regarding what defines being her.
“Being me is putting the ball in play and getting my work done every day,” Cole said. “I make sure I’m going to the gym, make sure I’m hitting every day and doing the mechanics.
“You’re going to have good games and you’re going to have bad games. But being able to come back and adjust midgame if you need to is important. It’s about having energy and making sure to be a leader.”
Cole stirred the straw every chance she had against H-F.
In the first inning, she was successful on a sacrifice bunt that led to a run. In the third, she broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer to left-center. In the fifth, she smacked a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mia Sanfratello.
“I was just really happy that I could drive in some runs for the team,” Cole said. “Since it was a close game and we had lost the last couple of years to H-F, it probably meant more.
“We just knew we needed to be on our game. On the home run, I was looking for a down pitch, and when I saw that ball come in …”
It was up, up and out.
After Thursday’s win, Cole is hitting .508 with 27 runs, seven doubles, four triples and nine homers. That’s right on pace with last season, when she helped lead the Celtics to a second-place finish in Class 3A.
Providence coach Jim Holba described her as a big-game player.
“It’s what we ask her to do,” Holba said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, if we can support you and you come up with big hits, it’s what we need.’ Even in the first inning, just her laying down a bunt to help manufacture a run was huge.
“She has accepted the leadership role. We’ve asked her to take it and run with it. She and Bella Olszta, being the most experienced players, have both done a good job with that. Angelina is a very kind, generous person as well. I think that makes the players respect her even more.”
Teammate Ava Misch appreciated the support shown by Cole when Cortes tripled to open the bottom of the sixth.
“Angelina just started yelling ‘Cortes!’ Cortes!” Misch said, laughing. “She gets cheerful. She gets very hyped and is happy for everyone. She’s just always very positive.”
Guilty as charged.
“Yeah, I was just kind of screaming,” Cole said. “I’m definitely a passion player. I’ll be the loudest. If people can hear me from miles away, that’s what I want.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
