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Teagan Gutsch has taken one wild roller-coaster ride during her softball career at Andrew.
As a freshman, she was a top pitcher on the JV level. As a junior, she saw minimal time in the circle. Including travel, it was the first time she wasn’t a starter in organized ball.
Bummer city? Nah.
“It was a little different, but I think it helped me a lot,” said Gutsch, the emerging senior right-hander. “I was able to get to know everyone and the new format.
“Last season, I watched a little more. Now, I’m experiencing a little more.”
And then some.
Andrew coach Alyssa Gunther handed Gutsch the ball on opening day against Evergreen Park. She responded with a stunning performance by striking out 15 and tossing a two-hit shutout in a 5-0 nonconference victory.
Genius move, coach.
“Well, when she came to tryouts the first week of practice, she looked really good,” Gunther said, smiling. “We knew she was going to have to step up for us. And she did that. It was awesome to see.
“Teagan is a program kid. She hasn’t been on varsity her whole time here. Her first time with us, she didn’t play as much. I think she took that and kind of fueled herself a little it to keep working at it and stay positive.”
The 15 strikeouts against Evergreen Park matched Gutsch’s entire season total from 2022.
“We had full faith in Teagan, and she did an excellent job for us,” Gunther said. “She was pitching so many strikes, and I think that’s why she was so effective. She was getting ahead in the count. She was just dealing, and it was so fun to watch.
“Since then, she’s just been that steady player for us. Whenever we ask her to do something, she just does it.”
Gutsch has started three games this season, with a 1.32 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. When she’s not pitching, she plays at first base. A mainstay in the lineup with her bat, she’s hitting .364.
The circle, however, is where she thrives.
Along with senior ace Kathleen Hester and Hester’s sophomore sister, Clare, Gutsch gives Andrew one of the deepest pitching staffs in the Southland.
The support, from one pitcher to another, has been strong.
“I think we do really well working together,” Gutsch said. “Kathleen has always been helping and encouraging. She’s always cheering everyone on.”
Hester, a Bowdoin recruit, is in comeback mode after suffering a foot injury in February.
“Gym class injury — kind of embarrassing,” Hester said, laughing. “It’s back now, we’re good and ready to go. But it’s great having Teagan. It gives us a real advantage. The fact that we have three good pitchers is truly something special.
“I did see a lot of potential last season with Teagan. I knew she would work super hard during the offseason and work hard in season now.”
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There is a lot to see.
From a fellow pitcher’s perspective …
“She has a killer drop ball,” Hester said. “She can go inside, outside, up, down. She can change speed. And she can go in to a game whenever she needs to.
“If she needs to go in with the bases loaded and two outs, she can do it. That’s a really special talent to have.”
From catcher Madison Vrastil’s perspective …
“Working with Teagan is great,” Vrastil said. “She makes it fun. We don’t think while we’re doing it. We just go through the moment. She throws the pitch, and doesn’t worry about how it’s going to affect the game.
“Teagan keeps her head clear at all times. Nothing bothers her.”
