Playing defense behind Oak Park and River Forest pitcher Chardonnay Harris isn’t a hard thing to do.
Staying awake is.
“I think it can get boring a little because Chardonnay literally just strikes out everyone,” OPRF sophomore shortstop Maeve Nelson said. “But I always have confidence when I’m (playing) behind her because she’s not going to throw me off.
“Like when I get a sign, I know (the ball) is going to go there. It’s really easy to play defense for her because she’s always really consistent.”
Nelson wasn’t kidding about the Harris’ strikeout rate. The powerful junior has been incredibly dominant in her 15 starts this year, compiling a 13-2 record and 1.23 earned-run average with six shutouts.
Harris has given up 21 runs (13 earned), walked seven and fanned 164 batters in just 94.2 innings of work, a rate of nearly two batters per inning.
She has done this despite battling back problems all season. The injury caused her to miss two weeks of action before returning to pitch in Saturday’s 3-1 sectional final win over Trinity. Harris threw a complete-game, five-hitter with no walks and seven strikeouts, while Fiona Girardot, Mariah Scott and Ellie Ziegler each went 2-for-3 to pace OPRF offensively. Scott, an excellent defensive catcher who also has been swinging a hot bat this postseason, came through in the clutch with a single in the bottom of the sixth to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.
That’s all Harris needed to secure the win.
“It’s nice to have Chardonnay back,” OPRF coach Mel Kolbusz said. “I compare her to Tiger Woods.
“When you see Tiger Woods swing, it’s so violent and he’s got a lot of back problems, too, from that torqueing. That’s (how it is) when she pitches.”
Harris, who committed to Auburn when she was a freshman, has long been dominant. She was a First Team All-State selection last year, when she went 18-3 with a 1.59 earned-run average and 176 strikeouts in 118.2 innings.
But her teammates have seen a more mature Harris this season.
“I feel like she’s improved a lot mentally, most importantly, because she’s been through a lot,” Nelson said. “She’s battled through her back problems and she’s come back from that.
“It’s awesome to see her do that because she was in a back brace a couple months ago. That’s always hard.
“I know it’s still bothering her, but she’s doing her best and to see her do everything she’s done this season, like have all those no-hitters and shutouts, is awesome.”
Harris, who began playing softball when she was 6, is a versatile athlete who played volleyball her freshman year and basketball as a freshman and sophomore. The back problems forced her to give up basketball and have given her a new perspective.
“I’ve grown a lot mentally,” Harris said. “I’ve been working on my physical game, but one of the reasons I think we’ve done better is because we all just believe in each other more.
“We know we can do it, so if I could credit anyone right now, it would be my teammates.”
Indeed, the Huskies (35-2), who won their 25th straight game Monday with a 15-2 win in five innings against Elk Grove in the Class 4A Rosemont Supersectional, are a tight-knit bunch bent on winning a state championship after reaching the state semifinals a year ago.
“That’s all we can keep talking about,” Harris said. “I’m shaking thinking about it.
“We’re all just trying to play one game at a time because (winning state) has been our goal since the last game we lost last year.”
The Huskies have a realistic shot at winning because they are one of the few teams with two pitching aces. Harris has shared the load with Valparaiso-bound senior Emily Richardson, who is undefeated.
“It’s been a blessing,” Harris said. “It gives us both a better chance to get ready for the next game. I believe in her as much as she believes in me, so it’s been a good season.”
Harris said she has learned from Richardson and the chemistry the two have permeates the team.
“We like to keep up with each other’s lives day-to-day, so that helps,” Harris said. “Also, when one of us is warming up I’ll say, ‘can you call pitches for me?’ and she’ll tell me, ‘nice spin, nice spot.’ So we really connect.”
Kolbusz is thrilled with the partnership.
“It’s awesome,” Kolbusz said. “(Harris) is more mature (this season).
“She’s a little bit more of a leader. She’s still got her crazy sense of humor, but kids will listen to her this year.”
While softball is Harris’ best sport, that’s not the only reason she chose to focus solely on it.
“Softball is more of a team sport I’d say,” Harris said. “I grew up with a lot of these girls so it’s always been my thing.
“I’ve stuck with it. To be able to play with them in high school really pushed me to be the best I could be.”