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homerhorizondaily.com sports
the homer horizon | March 19, 2020 | 41
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Gianna Bauer
Gianna Bauer is a senior
at Lockport Township. She
is entering her fourth year
as a starting pitcher for
the Porters softball team.
I know you are
looking forward to the
upcoming season, but
how concerned are you
that the coronavirus is
going to delay it?
The whole team has
been talking. We are very
concerned that it will lead
to cancellations. We are all
praying it’s not, because
this is our season.
When you step into a
program like Lockport
softball, how much
are you familiar with
the rich history of the
team?
We are very much
aware, especially because
the Findlays [Angie Findlay
Cushman is an assistant
coach for the Porters,
and her older sister, Sam,
had the winning hit as
Lockport rallied to win
the 2004 Class AA state
championship 8-6 over
Oak Park/River Forest] are
still around. It’s a privilege
to be part of the softball
program.
How did you get
started playing
softball?
My family has always
been into baseball/softball.
My older sister, Marissa,
and my older brother,
Danny, played. When I
was younger, I played everything
from gymnastics
to soccer, but I stayed with
softball.
What is it about
softball that makes it
the sport for you?
I’ve always loved pitching.
I’ve pitched ever since
I started playing softball in
a rec league when I was 6 or
7. I started pitching on travel
ball when I was 8. When
you pitch, you are in every
single play. It’s just very intense
and very competitive.
What have you
learned from Lockport
softball coach Marissa
Chovanec?
She’s been such a great
coach. She saw the potential
in me from freshman year.
She’s helped develop my
talent, my accountability,
and I always work on that.
What team are you
looking forward to
playing the most this
season?
Joliet West [on Monday,
April 6, at home]. That’s
because we lost to them
[6-5] in the sectional final
last year. I think that will
be an exceptionally fun
game, and I want to pitch
in that one.
If you could have any
superpower, what
would it be?
I want to be able to talk
to animals. I love animals,
so I think that would be
perfect. I would also love
to be super fast, like the
Flash, and be able to get
anywhere quickly.
Photo submitted
A two-part question.
Do you have a name
for your vehicle?
And what do you do
to pump yourself up
before a game?
The G-Mobile. Because
most people call me “G.”
It’s a 2016 Chrysler 300.
As for pump-up, I really
don’t need anything to
pump myself up. Once I’m
out there, I find it super
easy to focus and get the
job done.
Are you going to play
softball in college?
No, I’m not planning to
play softball. I’m going to
Western Michigan. I take
my academics really seriously.
That’s been my
dream school, and I’m glad
to go there. I want to be a
teacher and maybe give
back to the game as a coach
in the future. I still may
try to walk-on the softball
team, but I’m not sure now.
What is the best thing
about being an athlete
at Lockport?
Just being part of some
tremendously great athletics.
We have especially
great coaches that support
you. We also have
great boosters that provide
things for us, along with
great fields and an administration
that provides resources
for us.
Interview by Freelance Reporter
Randy Whalen
This Week In...
Porters Varsity
Athletics
Girls Track and Field
■March ■ 21 at Lockport
SWSC, 9 a.m.
Boys Track and Field
■March ■ 21 at SWSC Indoor
Meet, 8:30 a.m.
Boys Water Polo
■March ■ 19 at St. Charles
North, 6 p.m.
■March ■ 20 at Mundelein
Water Polo Invite, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 21 at Mundelein
Water Polo Invite, 8:30 a.m.
Girls Badminton
■March ■ 21 at Downers
Grove North Invite, 8:30
a.m.
■March ■ 23 at Quad Meet,
4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 24 at Lincoln-Way
Central, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Water Polo
■March ■ 21 at St. Charles
North SCN Girls Invite
Championship, 10:40 a.m.
■March ■ 21 at Andrew High
School SCN Girls Invite,
12:20 p.m.
■March ■ 23 hosts Richards,
5 p.m.
■March ■ 24 hosts Bremen,
5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
■March ■ 19 at Wheaton
Warrenville South, 6:30
p.m.
■March ■ 25 at Plaainfield
Co-Op, 7 p.m.
Boys Baseball
■March ■ 20 at Galesburg
PBR Metro East Classic
Tournament, 2 p.m.
■March ■ 20 at Mascoutah
PBR Metro East Classic
Tournament, 7 p.m.
■March ■ 21 at Harrisburg
PBR Metro East Classic
Tournament, 11:30 a.m.
■March ■ 21 at O’Fallon High
School PBR Metro East
Classic Tournament, 4:30
p.m.
Boys Volleyball
■March ■ 20 at Maroon and
White Scrimmage, 6:30
p.m.
Boys Tennis
■March ■ 21 at Triad
Triangular, 8:30 a.m.
Girls Soccer
■March ■ 25 hosts Plainfield
East, 4:30 p.m.
Celtics Varsity
Athletics
Baseball
■March ■ 21 host
SOFTBALL
From Page 45
see the ball very well. I do
whatever it takes and just
focus.”
Also returning for their
senior season and going
on to play in college
are catcher Angelle Bills
[Lake Forest College], outfielder
Brooke Ligacki
[Ball State University], first
baseman Marissa McElligott
[University of
Wisconsin - Platteville],
outfielder Haley Panfil
[Charleston Southern
University], catcher/first
baseman Maya Renfro
[University of Rhode Island],
third baseman Kara
Riordan [Moraine Valley
Community College],
second baseman/shortstop
Kelli Riordan [Rock Valley
Community College], and
outfielder Danielle Travis
[Moraine Valley Community
College].
Katelyn Woulfe, who
plays second base and
shortstop, is one of just
three juniors on the team.
In the end, the Porters hope
all their experience adds up
to a special season.
“We have a tough schedule
with some great pitchers
this season,” Chovanec
said. “We will play last
year’s state champions,
Huntley, along with York,
Crown Point, Indiana, Joliet
West, Joliet Catholic
Academy and others. You
Bolingbrook, 11 a.m.
■March ■ 23 at Joliet Central,
4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
■March ■ 20 at South Elgin,
6:15 p.m.
■March ■ 25 host Nazareth,
5 p.m.
Girls Soccer
■March ■ 19-24 Windy City
Ram Classic, TBD
Softball
■March ■ 24 host LW
Central, 4:30 p.m.
Boys Tennis
■March ■ 24 at Montini, 4:30
p.m.
■March ■ 25 host Andrew,
4 p.m.
Boys Indoor Track and
Field
■March ■ 21 Catholic League
Meet at University of
Chicago, 8 a.m.
Girls Indoor Track and
Field
■March ■ 21 GCAC Meet at
University of Chicago, 8
a.m.
Boys Volleyball
■March ■ 24 host St. Rita,
6 p.m.
have to play the best to be
the best. Our strength of
schedule will hopefully
help us late in the season.”
The Porters had been
slated to open the season
this Saturday, March 21, by
hosting a triangular starting
at 10 a.m. with Oswego and
Montini, which won state
titles in 2016 and 2018
in Class 3A. On Monday,
March 23, at 4:30 p.m.,
they were supposed to host
last year’s Class 4A state
champion, Huntley.
The next day, the Porters
were supposed to travel to
Elmhurst for a 4:45 p.m.
game against York. With
coronavirus concerns, how
the season progresses was
not immediately known.