Stonecipher became South Elgin’s staple

Life is going to be a little different around the South Elgin softball program next year.

The Storm will be missing a staple.

For the past four years, South Elgin coach Jason Schaal knew that every day he could pencil Katelyn Stonecipher into the No. 1 spot in the batting order and into an outfield position and feel pretty darn secure.

“I haven’t had to worry about a leadoff hitter for four years,” Schaal says. “That’s going to be different.”

Stonecipher, a softball junkie since about the time she got out of diapers, became not only the catalyst and foundation of South Elgin’s team the past four years, this season she became the Storm’s on and off the field leader and she excelled in both roles.

And for her efforts, Stonecipher has been selected as the Honorary Co-Captain of the 2011 Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area team. She shares the award with Cary-Grove sophomore pitcher Lindsay Efflandt.

“She was a freshman on the 2008 team,” said Schaal of the Storm team that went to the sectional finals that year. “She really learned a lot from that class. She matured and this year she turned into an outstanding senior leader. We talk about leading by example. She’d have an 0-for-4 game and be frustrated but she wouldn’t let it snowball. She’d work harder to come back strong the next time.”

That’s because failure isn’t an option for Stonecipher, who has a 4.0 GPA, is a National Honor Society member and will study business at the University of Iowa, where she will likely try to walk on to the Hawkeyes’ softball team.

“I don’t ever give up,” Stonecipher said when asked what she felt her best asset was. “If I’m struggling or having a bad day I never give up. If I get frustrated I just have to shake it off. If I make a mistake I just have to better next time.”

Stonecipher’s offensive numbers weren’t staggering, but they were solid and consistent. She hit. 403, scored 39 runs (2nd in the area), had 54 hits (2nd in the area), 10 doubles, 20 RBI and 17 stolen bases. That coupled with being one of the quickest and most accurate outfielders the Fox Valley has seen in many years, made her the complete player, which also earned her a Super 60 invitation.

That and her attitude.

“Her personality in the dugout and her focus were her strongest traits,” Schaal said. “You can’t ask for more than that as a coach. She’s always positive and she comes to all our camps and helps the younger players. She’s a super kid. I sure would like to keep her around a couple more years.”

Stonecipher’s softball career began when she was 5 years old playing Tee ball in the South Elgin Little League. And from that moment, she had the guy by her side that she credits for teaching her the game from A to Z.

“My dad definitely taught me everything I know about softball,” said Stonecipher of her dad, Chad. “I always would mess around playing catch with my dad and he got me into Little League. Turns out I was pretty good at it and it just kind of came natural to me.”

Stonecipher, who has a younger brother, Brett, is also somewhat of a unique story in the travel softball world. She’s played for the same organization — the Elgin Heat — ever since she graduated from Little League to travel ball. She was 10 when she started playing for the Heat’s 12U team, something she didn’t realize then would help her when she got to high school and became a varsity starter her freshman year.

“I was always the youngest one on my team so I think those two years, my freshman and sophomore year, really made a big difference for me this year,” she said. “I had to step up and be a leader this year but I really didn’t have to do much because the younger girls all stepped up.”

The young Storm finished the season 20-15 and proved to be a formidable foe to even the elite teams on most days.

“I wasn’t expecting us to be this good this year,” said Stonecipher, also a four-year volleyball player for the Storm. “We made the (Daily Herald) Top 20 a couple times and that excited us so much. I’m proud of what we did this year.”

Reflecting on her career, Stonecipher says her first two years hold the fondest memories.

“Winning regionals my freshman and sophomore year, especially my freshman year when I came in not knowing what to expect and got taken up to varsity right away,” she said. “And my teammates. They will be lifelong friends. Especially this year. We all got along so well. I’m going to miss them.”

Schaal and the Storm will miss Stonecipher as well.

“I can’t put into words what Katelyn Stonecipher has meant to this program,” Schaal said.

And that says it all.