Softball: St. Edward grad Scully excited to be playing at ISU

Ryann Scully has realistic expectations and some lofty goals.

Scully, a St. Edward graduate, earned a spot on the Illinois State University softball team last week as a walk-on. When she left Elgin for Normal in August she hadn't planned to try out for the Redbirds but watching them practice fueled her desire to keep playing the game.

"From our dorm room we can see the baseball, softball and soccer fields and as I was watching them practice I got that feeling and I missed it," said Scully, who rooms at ISU with Hailee Massie, a Crystal Lake South graduate who was Scully's teammate on the Northern Illinois Lightning travel team the past three years.

"I started emailing the coaches and once they heard I could catch, they invited me to come to practice, and I made the team. It never even really felt like a tryout."

Scully was a catcher and multi-positional player at St. Edward. A two-time Daily Herald All-Area player, she hit .457 her senior year with 4 home runs, 24 RBI, 9 doubles, 4 triples and 31 runs scored. She helped the Green Wave to a 21-9-1 season, their first 20-win campaign in 10 years.

"I'm really happy for Ryann," said former St. Edward coach Jaci Corn. "I always knew she had Division I potential and I'm glad she decided to pursue her dream."

While she's excited to be a part of the Redbird program Scully, who is majoring in criminal justice, also knows as a walk-on that her playing time, especially as a freshman, may be limited.

"I'm very excited," said Scully, who caught two innings in ISU's alumni game on Sunday. "I didn't realize how much I'd miss it. I know I probably won't play very much this year but I'm excited to learn more and improve so that when I do play I can contribute.

"I can't wrap my head around it yet. I never thought this would happen. I want to get some playing time this year. I know I'm the third string catcher but eventually I'd like to be a starter. Ultimately it came down to the fact I missed playing, I missed being on a team and I missed the chemistry of being on a team."

ISU was 25-31 last season. The Redbirds are coached by Melinda Fischer, now in her 31st season in Normal with over 1,000 career wins.