FS_092117

52 | September 21, 2017 | The frankfort station sports
frankfortstation.com
East graduate plays for University of Toledo
Randy Whalen
Freelance Reporter
Lincoln-Way East alumna Ami Ill, who helped the Griffins finish as a state runner-up, is continuing her softball career at the University of Toledo.
photo submitted
Sometimes you just know.
Ami Ill, a Team 22 All-
Area softball outfielder this
year, knew the University
of Toledo was the place for
her.
That’s where Ill, who
graduated from Lincoln-
Way East after helping the
Griffins to a state runner-up
finish this spring, now continues
her softball career.
But the process of deciding
to play at the Division I
university took a quick turn
a few years back, and Ill
couldn’t be happier.
“I was going into my
sophomore year and I was
playing a tournament in
Glen Ellyn which coach
[Kristen] Butler was at it
looking at players” Ill said
of the head softball coach
at the University of Toledo.
“She wasn’t really looking
at players from my age [16u
at that time], but I caught her
eye. You never know who is
watching you.
“I was playing for the
Southern Force at that time
and was the only Illinois
player on the team. But we
were being coached by [former
Lincoln-Way East softball
standout] Alisa Goler
that tournament. Coach Butler
contacted her and told
her that she was interested
in me.”
Goler, a 2007 East graduate,
who went onto to be a
three-time All-American at
the University of Georgia,
played professionally for
five years, and is currently
an assistant softball coach at
Syracuse University, saw the
talent in Ill.
“Ami is very hardworking,”
Goler said. “She comes
from a great family, and I
think that has had a lot to do
with the type of player she’s
turned into.
“During the recruiting
process, I can remember telling
coaches not to be swayed
by her [5-foot-2 inch] size.
Coach Butler at Toledo recognized
her abilities immediately
when she came to see
her play. I can’t wait to see
how Ami develops under her
leadership at Toledo.”
Butler, who had an outstanding
career at the University
of Florida and also
played professionally, immediately
made an impact
on Ill.
“Coach Butler invited
me to one of their softball
camps,” said Ill, who plans
to major in exercise science.
“During my sophomore
year I attended two
of their camps and went on
an unofficial visit. I knew it
then and committed during
my sophomore year. I really
loved Coach Butler and her
credentials amazed me. She
had a lot of influence in my
decision.
“Plus I loved the campus.
It’s not too close to home,
but being a four hour drive,
not too far away either. I just
love the look of the campus,
how it’s laid out, everything.
I’m looking forward to this
opportunity. They have so
much school spirit and I’m
just glad to be a it.”
Ill was also happy to be a
part of the amazing success
the Griffin softball program
had the past four years. The
coaches were certainly
happy she was there.
“As a coaching staff we
are very excited that Ami
will be continuing her softball
career at the University
of Toledo,” East coach
Elizabeth [Pawlicki] Hyland
said. “It has been great to
watch Ami grow these past
four years into the player
she is today and we look forward
to seeing what she accomplishes
in the next four
years of her softball career.
There is no doubt she will
continue to play with the
same motivation, determination
and heart she had here at
Lincoln-Way East.”
Playing at East, which
won for straight sectional
titles in her four years on the
varsity team, helped prepare
Ill for the next level.
“Yes, it will definitely help
me,” she said of her playing
for the Griffins. “To be part
of a team that’s a winning
program like this will help
me in the future. It helped
me to be focused, give it my
all and compete for my team,
not for myself.”
This past season was especially
special for Ill. She was
named to various All-Area
teams, including Team 22nd
Century Media. That was
thanks to her outstanding play
in center field, which included
a .408 batting average with
six doubles, five triples, three
homers and 30 RBI. She also
added 13 stolen bases.
She helped the Griffins to
finish as the state runner-up
in Class 4A for the second
time in three seasons. They
also placed fourth her freshman
year. So she was part of
a trio of state placing teams
in her high school career.
“I was very fortunate
through the years to be part
of a team that was so driven
and wanted to go far,” Ill
said. “We wanted to be the
best in the state every year.
So to be a part of that was a
dream come true. Most people
don’t get an opportunity
to do that.”