Warren's pursuit of a state repeat rings true

The thing with the ring, which is the ultimate bling, is that it provides a wonderfully large accessorizing option.

"I wear it more on fancier occasions," Shannon McKeon said.

Same goes for her Warren softball teammate Rachele Belletini, who's clever.

"I always wear it on college visits," Belletini said. "I'm like (flaunting, smiling, extending her hand with the ring), 'Hi there.' "

McKeon went to school once wearing the piece of jewelry she'll cherish forever. A softball standout stood out, no doubt.

"One day I was wearing a softball shirt," McKeon said. "I was like, 'Gotta complete it.' So I wore the ring."

It's a fun thing, this ring, which McKeon proudly describes as "nice and pretty." It's decorated with rhinestones with pictures of a softball, bat and home plate with words "WTHS" and "state champions." Each player's name and jersey number is on the ring, too.

"Coach Mac, he's got some big hands," Belletini said of former coach Bryan McNulty, who stepped down following last season to focus on being Warren's head football coach. "His ring is like a size 13 and the top is twice the size of a quarter. It's huge. Flashy."

It's a funnier thing that members of Warren's 2014 team get to wear these championship rings, whether it be on fancy occasions or any ol' occasions.

After all, the Blue Devils finished third in the North Suburban Conference Lake Division last season. They entered the Class 4A state tournament with 9 losses. But they cruised through the Loyola regional, edged New Trier 3-2 in the sectional semifinals, knocked off NSC champ Lake Zurich 12-9 in the sectional final at Stevenson and edged perennial state power Barrington 3-1 on the Fillies' home field in the supersectional to earn a berth downstate.

Warren had been to state only one other time, in 1980.

Once in East Peoria, Warren beat Glenbard North 6-3 in the semifinals. The Blue Devils then overcame a 3-2 deficit after four innings to top Sandburg 8-4 for their first state championship.

"I think it was pretty great coming in (to the state tournament) as the underdog," said McKeon, who batted third and started at shortstop. "It was definitely unexpected for us to win, but I think that just made it all the better for us."

Warren soaked up its state title during the summer, and then once the returning players headed back to school in the fall, they were reminded again of what they achieved a couple of months earlier.

"Our school is really big," said Belletini, who batted fifth, drove in 2 runs in the state-championship game and played first base. "Even people who you don't know would come up to you and say, 'You won the softball state title, right? Can I see your state ring?' It was awesome. It felt like you were a famous person walking around the hallways because everyone knew you accomplished something huge."

Gone are Jaz Bonke, Michelle Vasen, Megan Scott, Jodie Hurd, ace Jana Wagner and equally talented starting pitcher Jenny Carpenter, all of whom graduated. But there is returning talent in McKeon, who's signed with the University of San Diego, Belletini, Sabrina Trevino, Crystal Pennell and Amber Leneau, who launched a homer in the state-title game.

"Every one on the team has played together before so I think we're going to come out with a lot of good chemistry like we had last year," Belletini said. "We're going to be a great team, and I think we'll be able to make it far."

Two sophomores, pitcher Hannah Nommensen and lefty-hitting center fielder Emily Hudgins, are two huge additions. The 5-foot-11 Nommensen is the sister of former Blue Devil (and state champ) Morganne Nommensen. Hudgins homered at Barrington this week.

"I think we have really good talent, especially the younger kids that are coming up," McKeon said. "They're going to fill very nicely the shoes of everyone that has left."

A new season has brought a new coach, former Warren star Jenna Anderson, who assisted McNulty last season. Opponents will badly want to knock off the defending state champs.

"The girls know that everyone is coming for them," Anderson said. "But we take it in stride. We're going to go out there and try to work harder than the other team every day. That's what we do in practice, that's what we did in the off-season, and that's what we do on the field."

That's why the Blue Devils have those rings.

jaguilar@dailyherald.com

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