Senior catcher Hayden Sujak knows the predicament that success has put her in for St. Charles East. Thanks to gaudy numbers, the South Carolina recruit rarely sees a lot of pitches to hit.
If any at all.
So, when Sujack actually sees one that she likes, she pounces.
“I was sitting on the bench like, ‘Just give me something, give me something,’” Sujack said. “I watch plenty of softball. You get one pitch. I missed it my first at-bat. It was my third pitch and it was my pitch, and I know that, and I missed it. Third at-bat too, I fouled it away.
“That’s really all you’re going to get, especially against a good pitcher. Just give me something.”
Sujak got what she wanted in her second at-bat Monday and didn’t miss. She hit an absolute rocket to lead off the fourth inning for the 60th home run of her illustrious career, but the Saints dropped a 10-1 decision to Marist in a Class 4A supersectional at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
Hannah Wulf struck out nine for St. Charles East (31-9) but couldn’t slow down the RedHawks’ relentless lineup. The homer from Sujak was the only damage allowed by Soleil Tate, who struck out 13 for Marist (36-1). Maddie Rogers had three hits and Alia Rowles drove in three runs.
The 60 career homers tie Sujak for third all-time in Illinois High School Association history. That production isn’t the only thing St. Charles coach Jarod Gutesha will miss, however.
“We’re going to miss her just a little bit,” Gutesha said. “The leadership, starting with Hayden, she’s one of a kind. She does everything. The play on the field, her leadership, her presence.
“All those things. She’s been great.”
The Saints were already down 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Sujak led off the inning. Despite the wind blowing in, she crushed a long homer to get the Saints on the board.
“She absolutely mashed that ball,” Gutesha said. “That was fun to watch. I wanted her to get to like 65, 66, but nobody pitched to her all year.
“She would have had 75 homers if they pitched to her.”
The homer gave Sujak hope despite the five-run deficit.
“At that point it was 6-1, but there was still a possibility,” Sujak said. “It was great. I’m happy that I can represent my team like that.”
Marist beat St. Charles East 4-0 on April 6 with Tate in the circle. While Tate remembered that game, she refocused for the rematch.
“I knew we played them before and I had a good outing but no game is ever the same,” Tate said. “I just came out with all my stuff. I’ve been working really hard the last few days thinking what I throw works. I felt like I had it.”
Sujak, meanwhile, knows she still has plenty of softball left in her future. She couldn’t help but think about her fellow seniors that aren’t playing in college, though, like Lexi Majkszak.
“I didn’t want to be done,” Sujak said. “It happened and I have other things to do, but I feel bad for like Lexi. She’s not going to play in college. This is her last game.”
The loss didn’t stop Sujak from looking ahead for the Saints, though. She feels the program is in good shape, with freshman Brynn Maple and her eight homers standing out.
“I wanted to go to state and I wanted to do it with my teammates,” Sujak said. “I wanted to do it with my whole team. Not being able to do that is really hard, but it’s not the end.
“We have Brynn. I hope she goes and beats 60 home runs. I really hope she does that, and I really think she could.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
