When senior third baseman Julia Larson talks, teammates tend to listen.
It makes her a leader that St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin appreciates.
Larson, an Illinois State recruit, can be a calming influence and voice of reason during stressful times for the North Stars in the infield.
Need a big play? She’s there to flash the leather.
Need a big hit? She swings a big stick.
“She’s as tough as they come,” Poulin said, noting she was hit by pitches 12 times last season. “And she’s really locked in on a daily basis. You can see it in her approach at the plate.”
Larson’s impact was evident Wednesday in several facets as she teamed with senior pitcher Ava Goettel to lead the North Stars to a 9-1 nonconference win over Lincoln-Way East.
Larson had three hits — including a two-run single and RBI double — for host St. Charles North (5-1). She made an impressive play on a bunt and was there for her pitcher.
That came immediately after Goettel was rocked for a solo homer to center field in the first, hit into a strong wind by Texas recruit Katie Stewart to give the Griffins (8-3) an early lead.
“We’ve played together since my first game of T-ball,” Larson said of Goettel. “I’ve always been there talking to her. And not just her, I try to talk to everyone.
“After that girl hit that out, what I said to the huddle was, ‘Hey, we gotta come back and get it right now. We have to score to win anyway.”
Goettel, one of many veterans back from last year’s Class 4A state championship team, took it in stride.
“One run wasn’t going to beat us, especially with our lineup,” said Goettel, who finished with a three-hitter and eight strikeouts. “I had to let that go and keep coming strong.
“Julia is constantly talking. She always comes up to me and assures me, gives me and everyone on the field a whole bunch of confidence. She’s just a great person to have out there making plays for us.”
Larson covered a lot of ground and got rid of the ball quickly on a bunt in the fifth inning to quell a potential threat for Lincoln-Way East.
“That’s kind of my thing,” Larson said. “I get most of the bunts, even if they’re rolling down the first base line. The team pretty much knows that that’s mine. I get a good jump.”
She’s come a long way in a short time. Larson had played mostly outfield and middle infield growing up, moving last spring to third base.
“It was kind of out of the blue,” Larson said. “I switched because that’s where they needed me. I jumped in there and got a lot of reps.
“The view of the field is so different and your reaction time has to be quicker. I’m also learning to read the hitters, especially the bunters and slappers and what they do with their top hand, letting me know if I’ve gotta go.”
Senior second baseman Margo Geary doubled during a two-run fifth and junior designated player Maddie Hernandez doubled during a five-run sixth for a 14-hit attack.
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The game was made up from the previous week.
“We began conference play this week on Tuesday and Thursday, but Tom and I have wanted to play this game for years,” Lincoln-Way East coach Elizabeth Hyland said. “It’s a good opponent from outside our comfort zone.”
Hyland started freshman Audrey Bullock and thought the youngster gave her four strong innings.
“That’s a team that’s been scoring runs off very good pitchers,” Poulin said. “To hold them to one pleases me.
“I know we didn’t see their No. 1, but I like our bats, our aggressiveness on the bases. We made every play you’re supposed to make, and that’s all we can control.”
With Larson leading the way.
“She was clutch,” Poulin said. “She’s always clutch.”
