‘Ring season’ ends before it could begin
Hanover Central, a veteran team with eight returning starters, loses chance to pursue state title during coronavirus pandemic
Ashtyn Barnett didn’t hold back when discussing Hanover Central’s goals in 2020.
“We were shooting to win state,” the senior catcher/shortstop said. “All of our seniors said it was ‘ring season.’ This was the season we could go pretty far.”
With largely the same group, the Wildcats already had gone pretty far last season and were ready to build on that success. But the cancellation of the spring season because of the coronavirus pandemic has denied them that opportunity.
Hanover Central returned eight starters, including six seniors, from last season’s team that won its first sectional and regional championships since 2015 before losing in a Class 3A semistate semifinal. The Wildcats (21-4-1, 14-0), who also won the Greater South Shore Conference title, had eight seniors on their 2020 roster.
Like Barnett, senior second baseman/catcher Tyler Chambers would have been a four-year starter.
“I was looking forward to my senior year since I was 10 years old,” Chambers said. “To know it’s gone, it (stinks).
“I swear, we would’ve gone far. This was definitely supposed to be the best year. It’s just so sad we’re not going to see how it would’ve gone.”
Sam Antkiewicz was entering his first season as coach after three seasons as an assistant. He described the Wildcats as “the kind of team coaches dream of.” They had talent and work ethic, power and speed, pitching and defense, experienced veterans and energetic youngsters.
“My words can’t describe the extreme disappointment I have for them,” Antkiewicz said. “And there’s nothing I can say to make it better anytime soon.
“There are learning lessons from it, especially for the younger players: don’t take any practice for granted, don’t take any game for granted, don’t take any season for granted. But that’s of little consolation for this year’s seniors who have worked hard for four years to prepare for this season. They put themselves in position to really make some noise.”
Antkiewicz believes Hanover Central had state-caliber chops. A graduate of Thornwood High School in Illinois, he won a baseball state championship as a senior in 1991.
“These girls never having that chance to get to that point, it’s very frustrating on a personal level,” Antkiewicz said. “Being fortunate enough to win that state title, it’s something you never forget. We still talk about it, and people I don’t even know talk about it. When these girls have that potential and there’s not even a chance for them to make those memories happen, it’s just devastating.”
The Wildcats have been trying to make the best of the situation.
They’ve used Zoom. They’ve met at school in cars to talk, aligning in a circle while maintaining the recommended 6 feet of physical distancing. In the past week, the coaches, underclassmen and junior varsity players paraded in cars to each senior’s house to deliver a softball-shaped cake.
“It shows how much they care,” Barnett said. “It said, ‘The team supports you, and that’s how much you mean to us.’ It’s like we said to them, ‘You’ve made our four years memorable.’ ”
Five of the six returning senior starters will play in college. Chambers has signed with Aurora. Barnett has signed with DePauw, where she will join older sister Skylar, a junior and former Hanover Central standout. Pitcher Taylor Towry (Marian in Wisconsin), third baseman Alyssa Albrecht (Wisconsin-Stout) and outfielder Priscilla Seniw (Calumet College) also plan to play at the next level.
Outfielder Elise Kratkoczki, skilled enough to compete in college, opted to concentrate on academics. Outfielder Jessica Meier and corner infielder Brittany Gibson, who transferred from Thornwood, complete Hanover’s senior class.
There’s been discussion in the athletic department about still having some sort of senior night.
“When the news first hit about the season being canceled, it was pretty bad,” Chambers said. “But my team has been really, really awesome.
“It (stinks) not to have a season, but I’m just trying to be positive. I’m going to have next year. But some girls aren’t playing in college, so they don’t. That’s what really breaks my heart — the girls not even knowing when their last game was.”
Barnett missed out on playing a season with her younger sister Deyton, a freshman who seemingly was going to earn varsity time. Their father, Robert, died in January.
“We wanted to keep them focused and positive and just keep an eye on them with everything they’ve gone through,” Antkiewicz said.
“It’s just extremely tough.”