Competitive O'Malley thrives on all-around success for Conant
Rachel O'Malley calls third base her comfort zone.
O'Malley has helped make things quite comfortable for the Conant softball program and its fans the past four years, playing a key part in three Mid-Suburban League championships.
She caps off her stellar prep career by being named captain of the Daily Herald's Northwest softball all-area team.
O'Malley was also a co-captain for the Cougars, a role she played to perfection along with her quality work at third base and in her No. 3 spot in the batting order.
"I'll play anywhere but third base is my comfort zone," she said. "Third base allows me to get down to pure reaction time. I've always loved defense, I tell my team all the time that games are won on defense."
And not many are better in the infield than O'Malley, whose catlike reactions have led to many runners being thrown out at any base.
She is one of the most competitive players Cathyann Smith has coached in her 14 seasons leading the program.
"When Rachel came to tryouts as a freshman she definitely had a presence," Smith said. "Allie Bauch (former standout now playing for Illinois) would often say that Rachel making the varsity as a freshman was the best thing because her competitive edge always pushed Allie to play her best since they were both middle infielders."
As a captain, O'Malley constantly led by example, driving her teammates to perform to the top of their ability.
O'Malley credits former teammates and current Oklahoma State freshman Miranda Cavin with that leadership quality along with her coaches.
"I would have to say one person who really has influenced my game is Miranda Cavin," O'Malley said " Playing with talent like Miranda's made me learn that a true teammate is one that pushes you to get better rather than pats you on the back when you're not playing to your full potential.
"I owe a lot of who I am as a player to my coaches, too. Without them, I wouldn't know how to compete in the pressure situations that make softball the wonderful game it is."
A game that O'Malley mastered in many areas during her tenure at Conant under Smith and assistant Kelly Wolff.
In 386 career at-bats, O'Malley had 147 hits, 129 runs, 127 RBI, 26 home runs, a .382 batting average and .663 slugging percentage.
"The greatest aspect of coaching Rachel is that she loves this game and will fight for you and her teammates until the last out is called in the bottom of the last inning played," Smith said. "This trait is not something that can be taught, but is simply a special gift that Rachel has that makes her one of the best players in our area."
O'Malley started playing softball when she was 13 years old.
"My love for the game started with baseball," she said. " I was always 'one of the boys' so I played baseball on the Elk Grove travelers and Elk Grove Bulldogs (local baseball travel teams)."
She credits those days as a major factor in developing the competitive edge she holds today.
"Although I didn't get the 'softball experience' from a young age, having to compete with boys who looked at me as 'just a girl' has given me the drive and competitive edge I play with today," O'Malley said. "I'm a competitive person by nature whether it's in athletics or any aspect of my life."
O'Malley also played basketball until a few years ago.
"I loved playing basketball," she said. "It was a much more physical sport and I loved that aspect of it, but my heart stayed with softball because the mental side of bat and the ball sports is one of my favorite parts of the game."
Smith has seen it first-hand for four years.
"I have watched Rachel grow from a talented, eager, competitive freshman to a composed and extremely dedicated team leader as a senior," she said. "Perry Peterson (of Barrington) is a coach that I truly respect and he told me after the conference season that Rachel is fun to watch and her maturity and leadership seems to be the glue for our team. I couldn't agree with him more."
O'Malley agreed to play for Indiana University well before her senior season.
"It was always a dream of mine to play at the highest level for as long as I can," she said. "I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity to continue my career in softball at the collegiate level.
"I'm looking forward to making a name for myself and be a apart of Indiana athletics. I'm so grateful that I get to play at IU but I'm even more grateful I have the opportunity to get a D1 education."
She will study sports management.
"My whole life has been guided by sports," she said. "And I just don't know how I'd ever let that part of my life go."
Her high school experience at Conant has been highlighted by back-to-back conference titles in 2011 and 2012 (undefeated in the West in 2012) and another one this spring in which her team hit a school-record 52 home runs.
O'Malley led the way by hitting 11 out of the park and putting together a batting averaged of .467 with 9 doubles, 3 triples and team-highs of RBI (47), slugging percentage (.916) and on-base percentage (535).
"Although hitting is exciting - who doesn't love driving in a few runs - for me there's nothing like making a play in the hole with the winning run on third base," O'Malley said of her love for defense. "I think my favorite part of the game is that you have to give the other team a chance to come back. You can't take a knee or run the clock out. Instead you have to throw a strike to the batter.
"There's always a chance for the underdog to come back, always a chance to prove yourself. My favorite thing is that the 'best' team doesn't always win. In softball everything is earned."
O'Malley's skills, desire and leadership earned her the chance to play at Indiana.
"Rachel will be a great addition to coach Michelle Gardner's program," Smith said. " Her tenacity on defense is so fun to watch and is what the Big Ten is known for. I am excited for her to continue her softball journey, but her heart for this game and team leadership will be greatly missed by the coaches and remaining teammates. She will always hold a special place in the heart of this program."
And the program means just as much to O'Malley.
"My favorite part about playing for Conant is the atmosphere of the school," she said. "The four years I've got to play at Conant we have been very successful and that is wonderful but our softball team is backed by the whole Conant community. Without the support of other Conant teams, faculty, and students our successful seasons wouldn't have been possible."