At Hanover Central, sophomore pitcher Jillian DeYoung clearly understands the difference between regular season and playoff games. Senior catcher Sienna Stilley, committed to Jacksonville State, often reminds her that pregame rituals aren’t as critical as the game itself.
“Every warmup we’ve had in the postseason, she’s gotten frustrated with herself,” Stilley said. “I’m just like, ‘It’s not the game yet, so just relax. You don’t have to force anything yet.’ Then she gets in the game, and she’s just so loose and so composed.”
DeYoung’s skill shined during the 5-0 win over Griffith in the Class 3A Hanover Central Regional. She pitched a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and two walks, holding a perfect game until the fifth inning.
Her contributions weren’t limited to the mound. DeYoung went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, aiding Hanover Central as it claimed its second consecutive regional title.
The Wildcats (23-6), ranked tenth in state polls, will face second-ranked Logansport (27-1) at the Twin Lakes Semistate semifinals on Saturday.
“It’s so fun,” DeYoung said. “I’ve been looking forward to this time all year. Our team knows we can return to state.”
Her defense, which she praised as a “brick wall,” held strong. This was Griffith’s first regional since 2016, with DeYoung allowing only two base runners in the entire game.
“Griffith came to play,” said Hanover Central coach Sam Antkiewicz. “She (DeYoung) had to be on her ‘A’ game. She loves the ball in big games.”
This wasn’t new for DeYoung. She also had an impact offensively, singling in the first inning and adding a two-run single in the second.
“I was confident because we worked hard, especially on our at-bats,” DeYoung remarked. “Our focus was on Camryn Young’s strong throws.”
Coach Antkiewicz was unsurprised by her hits. “She gets big hits when needed. She’s a strong hitter, and we’re lucky to have that.”
This time against Griffith, DeYoung’s presence was pivotal after sitting out a previous loss due to a sore shoulder.
“I feel like as a team, we just weren’t on our ‘A’ game,” she remembered. “For this game, we were locked in, determined to give our all.”
Currently, DeYoung’s record is 18-4 with a 1.35 ERA, 224 strikeouts, and she is batting .360 with three homers. Her performance shows significant improvement from her freshman year.
“She’s stronger and wiser,” Antkiewicz said. “She understands her body and the season’s demands, which has helped her reach her peak.”