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It’s not hard to imagine what Sara Tarr will do as an encore for West Aurora.
Stay tuned.
The sophomore shortstop batted .514 in her varsity debut last spring, a season shortened to only 22 games by a shoulder injury that required surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Stellar on defense, the 6-foot Tarr went a torrid 36-for-70 at the plate with three home runs and 16 RBIs before trouble with her throwing shoulder eventually took over.
“It had been like an ongoing thing and we were trying, basically, everything we could do to prevent having surgery,” Tarr said of the injury. “I think it was something that happened over the course of a couple years — it was a long time.
“It was a bearable pain, but it was definitely there. Eventually, I knew I couldn’t continue on with it. I had to do something about it.”
Tarr did something about it Monday afternoon with two hits and two runs for the host Blackhawks in a 5-2 season-opening victory over Aurora Central Catholic.
The injury kept Tarr from taking part in West Aurora’s surprising playoff run that ended at the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional. It also denied her a summer travel season.
Being on the field as a freshman was replaced by physical therapy sessions, but her performance Monday showed the best could be yet to come.
“It was so tough being away from softball and not be able to play,” she said. “It feels so good to be back with my teammates.”
Back with a vengeance, Tarr hit the ball hard all three trips to plate for West Aurora (1-0). She had with a triple and RBI double, reaching on an infield error and scoring twice.
Tarr also had a good day in the field, backing winning pitcher Alyssa Perkins with two putouts and five infield assists, including two good plays that thwarted Charlotte Brummel.
One of Tarr’s plays came via a smooth backhander on a grounder in the hole between short and third and the other on a slow roller.
“I have full faith in my girl,” Perkins said of Tarr. “She’s been practicing really hard. I knew she was good. I’m very excited to play with her again.”
A senior right-hander, Perkins threw a four-hitter against the Chargers (0-2), with only two leaving the infield. Those came on a single to Amelia Lohrey and double by Sophia Delgado in ACC’s two-run, three-hit second inning.
“I’m very confident with Sara standing back there,” Perkins said. “It’s very important to have a good shortstop.”
The injury bug has been a frequent visitor to the household of Jim and Debbie Tarr. Sara’s older brothers, Matthew and Colin, both pitch and have dealt with elbow injuries in the past couple years.
Matthew is currently a freshman who also catches at John A. Logan, a community college. Colin, a senior at West Aurora, plans to play at Logan next spring.
“Everyone’s doing good,” Sara said.
Mia Malczyk also had two hits Monday for the Blackhawks, whose offense included an RBI single from Vianca Juarez and a sacrifice fly by Perkins.
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The Blackhawks trailed ACC starter Kate Gambro 2-1 through her four innings of work before breaking through late.
“Defense and pitching kept us in it until we could get something on the board,” West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said.
Sophomore second baseman Keira Hayton and Malczyk, a junior center fielder, helped to bolster the Blackhawks’ defense up the middle.
“Sara has the range to cover everything and Keira has pretty good range up the middle, too,” Hayslett said. “Mia had several nice diving catches last year.”
Tarr, also a team co-captain, figures to be the key, however.
“I’ve never had a sophomore voted a captain before,” Hayslett said. “When she steps up to the plate, I think she’s going to get a hit every time.
“On offense, you want her up there. On defense, you want the ball hit to her. Even the tough plays, she makes ‘em so easily.”
