The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Senior leader is team ‘glue’ at Perry, South
Regional teams cite leadership of Jesberger, Hradek for their success
Senior leadership is often a key attribute to any team that makes a long postseason run.
The South and Perry softball teams are no different.
They just don’t have a lot of seniors.
When the Rebels and Pirates hit the field on May 23 in the Division I and Division II regional softball tournaments, respectively, they will do so with one senior apiece.
K risten Jesberger is South’s lone senior and will start at catcher for the Rebels in their regional semifinal against Canfield.
Taylor Hradek is Perry’s lone senior, and will start at shortstop for the Pirates in their regional semifinal against West Branch.
While Perry and South are short on numbers when it comes to the senior class, where they are not short is in senior leadership.
They might be the only senior on their respective teams, but each provides as much senior leadership as an entire team of seniors provides their squad.
“Kristen is our glue. She is our leader,” South coach
Erin Dodson said. “She’s our heartbeat.”
Said Perry coach Joe Medlen of Hradek, “Taylor has been the cornerstone of the program for four years.”
Each received their moment in the sun last week at the district level.
During the awards ceremony, when players are presented their individual medals, the announcer at both Mentor (where South defeated Madison in the Division I district final) and Jefferson (where Perry defeated Jefferson in the Division II district final), asked for team captains to come forward to receive the championship trophy.
Jesberger walked out by herself to claim South’s trophy, while Hradek collected Perry’s.
Both received loud ovations from their teammates.
“We’re ultimately doing this for Kristen,” South sophomore Riley Frizell said. “She’s our only senior. We want nothing more. We’re going to work our butts off for this girl.”
It’s safe to say Jesberger and Hradek are “working their butts off” for their teammates, as well.
Jesberger enters the regional tournament batting .396 with 12 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 27 RBI and 17 runs.
She has made only one error this season.
“I have seen her grow from a young, inexperienced young girl to this wise and confident athlete,” Dodson said of her senior backstop. “Her work ethic and love of the her team and Rebel softball guide the her teammates and show them the path to success.”
Dodson said she enjoys not only coaching Jesberger, but also talking
strategy and watching her progress.
“Kristen is going to do amazing things at John Carroll next year, and she is going to change the world in some shape or form,” Dodson said.
W hile Je sber ger is headed to John Carroll, Hradek will be attending Wheeling Jesuit in the fall to continue her academic and athletic career.
Hradek enters the regional tournament batting .533 with 14 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 48 RBI. She has struck out only four times in 107 at-bats.
“Taylor has been a leader on and off the field,” Medlen said. “Taylor has been our shortstop for most of her four years and is one of the best if not the best shortstops in the area.
“Taylor has incredible range and has been our
lead off the whole time. Taylor has great base-running instincts. Taylor has had a great attitude and has helped show all the kids what hard work and dedication can do as Taylor has never missed hitting or any practices during her four years.”
When the 2019 softball season begins next spring, there’s no doubt both Perry and South will have high expectations. After all, each team will be returning a majority of their rosters from the 2018 season.
That’s why this season is so important to both the Rebels and the Pirates.
Because each team has one senior — one leader — who has helped pave the way for their current success story.
“Every other year we got to the semis and lost,” Hradek said. “This makes up for them all.”