McNulty feels tug from Butler
A tough break didn't stop Downers Grove North softball player Lauren McNulty from earning a scholarship.
The power-hitting senior third baseman suffered a broken left ankle while sliding in a game early in the summer, but things worked out for her in the end.
McNulty has verbally committed to Butler. She'll sign with the Bulldogs on Nov. 6.
"They made me a great offer," McNulty said. "I couldn't turn them down. It's such a great school academically. It's not too far from home. It's not too close. The team seems really cool, and I like the coaches a lot. They're great. It just seemed like a really good fit."
McNulty's broken ankle didn't scare off Butler coach Jeanne Rayman, who had watched McNulty play the day before she suffered her injury. The coach invited her to make an unofficial visit two weeks later, and McNulty returned for an official visit last month.
McNulty also received an offer from Loyola and a walk-on opportunity from Wisconsin.
"I was supposed to visit Wisconsin, but I was like, 'Butler's right for me,' and just decided to commit," she said.
McNulty said her scholarship will cover about 80 percent of her expenses.
"We haven't gotten an official number yet because it could go up," she said. "But I guess it's really rare for softball (to receive a full scholarship) if you're not a pitcher or a catcher, so I'm pretty happy with it and my parents are too."
McNulty will join a pair of former Glenbard North players at Butler, current junior third baseman Annie Dolan and sophomore shortstop Bridget Paine.
The plan is for McNulty to play outfield as a freshman and then third base once Dolan graduates.
Butler should like McNulty's bat wherever she plays. As a junior last spring, McNulty batted .443 with 14 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 35 RBI and 33 runs while compiling an .828 slugging percentage.
McNulty said she's back to full strength physically and looking forward to her final high school season.
"I'm so excited," she said. "I've never wanted to play more than I do right now."