It can be a challenge to find Oswego East’s Danielle Stone on the softball field, simply because the utility standout could be here, there or anywhere.
Where’s Danielle?
She could be the focus of a children’s book, if the idea hadn’t already been taken by an author obsessed with alliteration. Waldo, indeed. Stone, however, does have a No. 1 position.
“Catching is definitely primary,” said Stone, who will be a senior for the Wolves this year. “Versatility is super important, but what I was recruited mainly for was catching.”
It led to Stone verbally committing last week to a Division I scholarship offer from Northern Illinois.
“She can literally play everywhere,” Oswego East coach Sarah Davies-Dymanus said of Stone. “That’s the best positive I could ask for — a player whose bat I need in the lineup and can play anywhere. I’ll find a spot for her.”
This past season, Davies-Dymanus played Stone at second base, in the outfield and as the designated hitter. On her Dennison Silver Hawks travel team, Stone also has played shortstop.
She can definitely hit, too.
Stone batted .477 with 51 hits and earned third team all-state honors as a sophomore. She following that up by batting .480 with 48 hits this past spring, although Davies-Dymanus was “a little curious” as to why Stone was left off the all-state list this time around.
It didn’t hamper Stone in the recruiting process.
“For a while, I was thinking I’d go Division II,” said Stone, who had several such offers.
Stone credited Selena Kweder, her travel coach, with helping her make recruiting inroads.
“The process went pretty quick,” Stone said. “Initially, I wasn’t sure about that level of commitment, but it’s so close to home and I fell in love with the program and everyone on the staff.
“It’s a really good fit.”
She also reached out to Oswego graduate Aubriella Garza, who completed her freshman season this spring at Northern Illinois.
“She helped me a lot,” Stone said of Garza.
NIU’s staff, no doubt, had to be impressed with Stone’s versatility as a multisport athlete. She played a starring role last fall as a quarterback and safety for Oswego East’s inaugural flag football team. The Wolves (15-5) won conference and regional titles under coach Ryan Clifford.
“We were a club sport my sophomore year,” Stone said. “Growing up, football was my favorite sport to watch. Flag football is growing really fast. It’s so much fun playing all the positions.
“I know the game is a little different from the guys, but we’re very competitive and into the game.”
Stone passed for 2,271 yards and 32 touchdowns, ran for 1,289 yards and 10 TDs and led Oswego East with seven interceptions. She plans to compete again in flag football this fall.
According to Clifford, Stone could have had next-level opportunities for that sport as well.
“Dani has been throwing objects a long time, so it seemed to come real natural to her,” Clifford said. “We put a lot on her plate and she answered the challenge. She’s a coach’s dream.
“She only played safety a quarter of the season, but she’s one of those athletes we could put anywhere. She could be a wide receiver. She has tremendous hands.”
Softball, though, is still the one for Stone, especially catching.
Her older sister Nicole, a junior third baseman at North Central College after transferring from Wisconsin Stout, pitched at Oswego East and introduced Danielle to the sport.
“Nicole has been my biggest role model and I caught a lot of her pitching lessons,” said Danielle, who has taken individual catching instruction with Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler since she was 9.
It’s the ideal situation for Davies-Dymanus, who has her catchers call pitches.
“I’ve never called pitches in my life,” Davies-Dymanus said. “My catchers work with umps and have a better view. We’ll talk between innings, but it’s been successful.”
Stone called it one of her favorite things.
“I love doing it,” she said. “It adds depth to the game and gives you more to think about.”
