HERALD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: GLENBROOK SOUTH'S MADDIE KAPSIMALIS

Though she struck out in her first plate appearance of the softball season, there has been much joy in Glenview when mighty Maddie Kapsimalis advances to the bat. Through six games entering Thursday's against Maine West, the senior shortstop from Glenbrook South rang up base hits in 20 of her 22 at-bats, with two home runs including a grand slam, five doubles and 13 runs batted-in.

After that initial strikeout in the Titans' season opener against Conant, Kapsimalis recorded 18 consecutive hits, which according to the Illinois High School Association tied her for the state record. Monday at Schaumburg her streak ended when she went 3-for-4.

"It's not too often you go 3-for-4 and your batting average drops," said Glenbrook South softball coach Dana Boehmer.

A left-handed hitter but a right-handed thrower in the field, as a sophomore in 2019 Kapsimalis earned Illinois Coaches Association Class 4A second-team all-state honors. A player with the Orland Park Sparks on the club circuit, she is signed to play at Drexel University.

"I've never seen a streak like Maddie has had. All of her hits are legitimate hard hits to gaps, it's been amazing to watch," Boehmer said. "We are playing good teams, we intentionally have a strong schedule to prepare us for conference and postseason, and it doesn't seem to matter who is pitching, Maddie is on a hot streak."