Softball: Sophomore Grace Hautzinger wins season debut, pitches St. Charles East past West Aurora

ST. CHARLES – Grace Hautzinger had one start in the pitching circle as a freshman for St. Charles East last season, but now that responsibility is going to continue to grow.

Hautzinger guided St. Charles East to a 3-2 victory over West Aurora on April 6. Hautzinger allowed just one run on eight hits and struck out seven in six innings in her first start of the season.

“As far as a pitcher, she’s one of those kids that is very in control of her pitches,” East coach Jarod Gutesha said. “She’s able to hit her spots. She’s consistent in that sense. When you can hit your spots, you can move the ball around. You’re going to be successful against all the teams out there and any team that we play.”

Hautzinger apparently has the ability to keep batters off-balance, too.

“She can mix speeds. She doesn’t throw as hard as Izzy [Howe] does, but she still throws in the upper 50s, 57, 58 [mph],” Gutesha said. “That’s a very, very competitive velocity at the varsity level. She does a nice job.”

Hautzinger began her freshman year on junior varsity, but worked her way up into a spot start against Harlem.

Now in an established varsity role, sustaining trust with the defense behind her is key to her approach.

“Just really getting my innings in,” Hautzinger said of her goals. “Pitch. That’s what I do. Just be in the circle.”

The Saints (5-1) and West Aurora (3-2) were scoreless until St. Charles East right fielder Holly Smith smoked a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. It came two batters after Blackhawks starter Hadleigh Bedwell’s bid for a no-hitter was broken up by Chloe Hild’s single.

In the ensuing inning, West Aurora’s Katelyn Serafin connected for a two-out RBI triple to cut the deficit to one. Hautzinger struck out Vianca Juarez to stop the threat.

St. Charles East’s CiCi Wilson, coming off a six RBI afternoon April 4 against South Elgin, continued her hot streak with a towering solo home run to center field to push the lead back to two.

West Aurora’s Sara Tarr responded with a solo shot in the seventh inning off Howe in relief, but Howe then coaxed a groundout and got a line out to end the game.

Bedwell went six innings, allowing three hits and striking out three and a walk.

“[Bedwell] pitched really well. She had good spin, good movement. She’s got that ability [for no-hitters],” West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. “Her ball was really moving today. Her and Dyani [Rivera] were really in sync. Dyani called a really good game behind the plate. I think [Bedwell] did a really good job of keeping them off-balance. I wish we could take that seventh-inning home run back off the board as we battled back, but she pitched well.”