Elgin grad Schultz earns hall of fame status

Former Elgin High School baseball player Chris Schultz is now a Hall of Famer.

Schultz was recently announced as being part of the 2013 Purdue North Central Athletic Hall of Fame induction class.

Schultz, who a school news release tabbed as one who many believe to be the best baseball player in PNC program history, concluded his senior year by being named PNC’s first NAIA first-team all-American. He later signed a professional contract with the now defunct Schaumburg Flyers.

Schultz played two years at PNC after transferring from Elgin Community College.

In his senior year at PNC, Schultz established at-the-time school records in batting average (. 445), home runs (14), RBI (61), triples (8), total bases (159), hits (85), runs (52) and slugging percentage (. 832), while manning center field in 54 games. He added 17 walks, 8 stolen bases, 16 doubles and had 9 outfield assists. He was supposed to be PNC’s top pitcher, but ended up focusing on center field due to an arm injury.

In his junior season, Schultz hit .445 with 8 homers, 48 RBI, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 15 walks and 9 stolen bases in 40 games. He slugged .766, added 41 runs scored while playing first base. On the mound, he was 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 25.1 innings. Schultz fanned 27 and walked 13.

Kay racks up more honors: Bartlett alum Elizabeth Kay continues to excel on the softball diamond for Illinois State University. The senior catcher was recently named Missouri Valley Conference player of the week for a second-straight week and fourth time this season.

During this most recent awards period, Kay was retired just twice in 15 plate appearances spanning 4 games. She hit .800 with an .867 on-base percentage and a 1.800 on-base/slugging percentage. That tear included 2 homers, 6 RBI, 4 runs scored, 2 triples and 5 walks.

She went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, a homer, a triple and 2 runs scored in a 7-3 win over Northern Illinois. In Game 1 of a 3-game series against Missouri State, Kay walked twice before combining to go 5-for-5 with a homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, a triple, 3 walks and 3 stolen bases in the final 2 games of the series.

At the time of the award, Kay was hitting .769 during a recent 10-game stretch, which raised her average to a conference-best .429.

To start the week, Kay was hitting .426 in 38 games. She has 49 hits in 115at-bats and has scored 28 runs. She has 4 doubles, 2 triples, 10 home runs and 37 RBI. She has a .757 slugging percentage and has been walked 27 times and hit by a pitch twice to help her amass a .542 on-base percentage. She has struck out only 15 times and has 5 stolen bases. In the field she has made only 4 errors in 177 chances (. 977).

Kay’s 10th homer, a solo shot, gave ISU a late lead in its 6-5 win over Drake Sunday. Kay went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. With her run-scoring single in the first inning of that game, Kay surpassed Heather Stella for the most RBI in program history. She now has 159 in her three-plus season with the Redbirds.

ISU was 21-17 and 6-5 in MVC play to start the week.

Scott at Logan: Burlington Central graduate Tanner Scott is tearing it up on the John A. Logan College baseball team. Scott is hitting a team-high .412 in 25 starts. He has 35 hits in 85 at-bats and has scored 19 runs. He has 7 doubles, 1 homer and 20 RBI. Scott sports a .529 slugging percentage. He has struck out 7 times and has 14 walks and a .495 on-base percentage. Scott has 4 sacrifices and 1 sacrifice fly to his credit. He’s made only 1 error in the field in 24 chances. Logan started the week 22-19 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

Valparaiso softball update: St. Edward product Tarah McShane is now a sophomore catcher on the Valparaiso softball team. In 36 games this year, McShane is hitting .272 with 28 hits in 103 at-bats. She’s scored 13 runs and has 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 RBI. She also has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Also at Valpo, Huntley alum Amanda Wisniewski, a junior utility player, has started 37 of the 38 games she’s played in and has 12 hits and 20 runs scored. Included in those 12 hits are 3 doubles and 3 home runs. She also has 12 RBI and a team-high 28 walks. In the field she’s made only 3 errors and sports a .939 fielding percentage. Valpo was 21-19 overall and 6-6 in Horizon League play to start the week.

McKendree softball update: South Elgin graduate Caitie Stredde is a member of the McKendree University softball team. Stredde is hitting .324 in 31 games this season. She has 35 hits in 108 at-bats to go with 18 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 homers and 10 RBI. Stredde sports a .435 slugging percentage, has 2 stolen bases and has not made an error in 37 chances in the field.

Also at McKendree, Burlington Central product Ashley Scheffler has started 28 of the 29 games she’s played in this season. Scheffler is hitting .256 with 21 hits in 82 at-bats. She’s scored 7 runs, has 2 doubles, 1 home run and 10 RBI to go with 4 stolen bases. In the field, Scheffler’s been quite busy with a .940 fielding percentage on 133 total chances (70 putouts, 55 assists). McKendree was 9-22 overall and 7-16 in conference play to start the week.

Kaveney at Beloit: Cary-Grove alum Ryan Kaveney is a pitcher on the Beloit College baseball team. Kaveney is 2-1 this season in 5 games started (1 complete game). Sporting a 2.27 ERA, Kaveney has pitched 31 2/3 innings and has allowed 24 hits (21 singles) and 8 earned runs. He has 29 strikeouts and opponents are hitting .207 against him. Beloit started the week 7-11 overall and was 4-0 in conference play.

Hardie at Winona State: Crystal Lake South graduate Kaitlin Hardie is a key member of the Winona State softball team. Hardie is hitting .300 in 29 games this season (27 starts). She has 18 hits in 60 at-bats and has scored 14 runs. She also has 3 doubles, 1 homer and 17 RBI to go with a .400 slugging percentage and a .405 on-base percentage (thanks in part to 10 walks). In the field, Hardie has committed only 5 errors in 109 chances this year (46 putouts, 58 assists). Winona State was 24-6 and 9-1 in conference play through the early part of this week.

Harris at Villanova: Streamwood graduate Josh Harris is a sophomore left-handed pitcher on the Division I Villanova University baseball team. To start the week, Harris was 3-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 8 starts. He has 1 complete game this year. In 52 1/3 innings, Harris has allowed 52 hits and 17 earned runs. He has 36 strikeouts and 13 walks. Opponents are hitting .259 against him. Villanova started the week 9-25 overall and 1-8 in Big East Conference play.

Off at College wants your help: Send information and/or statistics on Fox Valley-area athletes playing collegiately to Mike Miazga at difibulator@aol.com.