St. Laurence’s Sophia Sanchez decides to play at Western Illinois. Her coach couldn’t be happier. ‘I think it’s awesome.’

Senior shortstop Sophia Sanchez doesn’t score extra Brownie points because she’ll be attending the same college where St. Laurence coach Teagan Walsh played.

But Walsh does think it’s pretty neat that one of her star players will be following in her footsteps.

“I think it’s awesome,” Walsh said. “When I found out she committed, I think I embarrassed her because I had to find her and cheer because I was so happy.

“Western is very dear and near to my heart, along with all of the experiences and friendships that came out of there. I know she’s going to have a great career in Macomb. I’m super excited about that.”

Sanchez, the Western Illinois recruit, provided plenty for her coach to cheer about Monday as the Vikings defeated host Sandburg 5-2 in Orland Park.

Central Michigan commit Emma Lotus tripled and singled while scoring twice for St. Laurence (2-0). Sanchez provided two hits and two RBIs, while senior right-hander Sarah Klonowski struck out 10.

Jenna Kucik tripled and scored a run for Sandburg (0-3). Ashley Fuller added two hits.

Lotus and Sanchez bat 1-2 in the order. The lefty-hitting duo were a real problem for the Eagles over the first two innings.

In the first, Lotus tripled and scored on a double by Sanchez. In the second, Lotus was on third and Sanchez on first when Sanchez broke for second and then decided to create some chaos.

“It was a straight steal, but then I saw the throw go down,” Sanchez said. “I knew I had to do something to get the fielders really thinking about what they were going to do.

“So I kind of just stayed where I was at to get into a rundown.”

It worked perfectly as Lotus was safe on the throw home and Sanchez made it to second.

“I kind of knew what she was doing there,” Lotus said, smiling. “Once I saw her going and drawing attention from the second baseman, I knew I could just take off.

“I love Sophia. She’s fun. I always know she’s going to be there for me. When we both go up to bat, we always try to tell each other, ‘You got it,’ And I know that even if I don’t get on, she’s going to be behind me to pick me up. That’s so awesome.”

Sanchez, who can also play second base and pitch, was one of the Vikings’ leading hitters as a junior. She batted .371 with 31 runs and 18 RBIs.

As a junior, she played mainly at second base, with Triton recruit AJ Juarez starting at short.

“When she graduated, I got the chance to move over,” Sanchez said. “Honestly, I love it a lot more than second base. The angle on the ball, getting the throw down, just everything about shortstop makes me really like it.

“I’ve played middle infield for most of my whole career, so it wasn’t that difficult.”

Her versatility gets Walsh just as excited as her college choice.

“Sophia has come very much full circle in her senior year,” Walsh said. “She has really brought the confidence. She has gotten faster and stronger. I think that too built her confidence in knowing she can make plays and challenge herself.

“She can pitch. She can play middle infield. No matter where we put her, she gives us 150%. That’s the kind of kid you want on your softball field.”

Sanchez, meanwhile, set the record straight on being a “coach’s pet.”

“No, that is not why I decided to go there,” she said, laughing. “We didn’t talk about Western at all until I committed.

“I went there because the environment was very welcoming. I love the coaches. And the program itself made me feel it’s somewhere I want to play at.”