Fremd's D'Ambrosio steps toward catching future at Missouri-Kansas City
Lexi D'Ambrosio's parents tried their daughter at dancing at a young age.
"They knew I wasn't a dancer," Lexi said.
No, but they would soon find out their daughter had quite the moves on the softball field.
D'Ambrosio has emphatically shown them as an all-area catcher at Fremd and after this spring, she will be high-stepping it off to the University of Missouri-Kansas City. D'Ambrosio signed a letter of intent to the Division I program last month.
It was late in the recruiting process last fall, and D'Ambrosio was having the weekend of her life in a softball tournament where coaches from Kansas City were on hand.
"UMKC noticed me and on the spot offered," D'Ambrosio said. "I knew going into the recruiting process that if I could I would like to stay in the Midwest and be near a city. I had never heard of the school let alone considered it.
"When I got back to my hotel I did a lot of research (on UMKC) and was very pleased with what they had to offer both academically and athletically."
After talking to the UMKC staff and walking the campus, D'Ambrosio felt right at home.
"It was a beautiful campus and I felt so comfortable," she said. "They're very competitive both academically and athletically, and as a team and school they are very close knit.
"Being on campus and being able to meet some of the girls made me feel at home. The coaches are very kind and understanding when it comes to academics. I know it will be challenging to balance but I plan to study mechanical engineering."
D'Ambrosio has engineered the Vikings' defense since her freshman year, while also sparking the offense. No one will forget her sophomore season when she belted the decisive two-out grand slam in Fremd's exciting come from behind 8-5 win over at Elk Grove.
She can't wait for her senior season.
Last spring , she hit .409 with 27 RBI, 20 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples and 1 homer.
"Lexi is a defensive stalwart and the backbone of our team," said Fremd first-year coach Josh Teschner after the season. "Her work ethic and leadership are what make her special and complement her tremendous offensive prowess."
"I am very excited to play my final year at Fremd," D'Ambrosio said. "It feels like yesterday I was a young freshman hoping to make the varsity team. I plan to leave it all on the field this spring with the best of girls and show people what Fremd softball really is about."
And then she will show what she is about on the college diamond.
"It has always been a goal to play in college ever since I was little," D'Ambrosio said. "Even when I learned how committed you have to be and all the responsibilities that come with being a Division I student-athlete, I knew I was up for the challenge."
She credits her family with her success.
"My family are the main people that inspire me to reach my goals and always support me through everything I do," she said. "My dad especially has pushed me and always told me that I was capable of amazing things and that I just needed to work hard to accomplish my goals. He has been my main inspiration throughout all these years.
"Also, throughout all the years so many coaches and players that I have played with and against have made me the person and player I am today and taught me commitment, time management, responsibility, and being able to admit my mistakes."
Kemph sets milestone
Saint Louis University senior guard Jackie Kemph (Rolling Meadows) scored a team-high 17 points to become Saint Louis' all-time leading scorer, and her head coach Lisa Stone collected her 600th career victory as the Billikens rolled over St. Bonaventure 78-55 at Chaifetz Arena in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
Kemph's driving layup with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter gave her 1,586 points, one more than previous record-holder Sadie Stipanovich.
Kemph became only the sixth player in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to hold her team's career marks for points and assists. She had a game-high 8 assists in the game.
Women's basketball
Carthage College sophomore Maggie Berigan (Hersey) scored a career-high 17 points as the Lady Reds defeated Ripon College 63-52. Carthage trailed 30-23 at halftime before their 20-6 third-quarter run. Berigan sparked the big half scoring 12 points.
"I told everyone they need to relax and loosen up as they looked tight out of the gates," said head women's basketball coach Tim Bernero on the school's website. "But the second half started and Berigan was fantastic as she played her best game ever."
Carthage senior Morgan Harris (Hersey) chipped in 15 points and notched a team-high 8 rebounds as the Lady Reds improved to 8-4 and 1-2 in the CCIW.
• Duke redshirt sophomore Haley Gorecki (Fremd) scored a career-high 25 points in the Blue Devils' 66-60 loss to Louisville. She was 10-of-14 from the floor, 5-of-7 from 3-point range and collected 5 rebounds, 6 assists, a career-high 2 blocks and 1 steal in 34 minutes. It was her sixth straight double-digit scoring game.
Football
Augustana senior tight end Andrew Apel (Buffalo Grove) was the Vikings' winner of the Doug Schmied Award, voted on by the coaches for loyalty, leadership, citizenship, most sports- and team-minded and attitude. The honor is named for Schmied, the IWU senior offensive lineman who passed away in 2005.
Men's soccer
Central College (Pella, Iowa) junior defender Kiel Pederson (Hersey) received honorable mention recognition in the Iowa Conference.
• North Central freshman Andrew Bird (Schaumburg) was an Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection. Bird played in three games and helped the Cardinals finish with an 8-9-1 overall record.
• North Central freshman Sean Bird (Schaumburg) was also an Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) selection.
Women's cross-country
North Central junior Katie Thevara (Elk Grove) was an Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) selection. Thevara finished in 31st place at the CCIW Open Race. She helped the Cardinals finish third at the CCIW Championship and 13th out of 37 teams at the NCAA Division III Midwest region Championship.
Men's soccer
North Central freshman Alexis Flores (Schaumburg) was an Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection. Flores led the team in shot attempts (53) and shots on goal (24). Flores helped the Cardinals finish with an 8-9-1 overall record.
Men's cross-country
• North Central senior Argeni Bailon (Palatine) was an Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection. Bailon finished in sixth place out of 42 participants in the Principia College Invitational. Bailon assisted the team in finishing in first place in this meet. He helped the Cardinals win their 44th consecutive CCIW Championship and their 18th national championship.
• Email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.