Here we go again.
Every time Bria Riebel steps to the plate for Hampshire, the temptation for opposing Fox Valley Conference coaches might be to mutter, “This kid’s hitting the cover off the ball.”
Riebel, a senior shortstop, has dominated varsity pitchers for four years but none more than this spring, carrying a .619 batting average into Friday’s final regular-season game against Palatine.
But Riebel also brought that phrase to life Thursday against host Geneva, hitting a two-run homer to center field in the third inning to spark the Whip-Purs to a 12-6 nonconference victory.
When the ball was retrieved after that rocket shot over the eight-foot outfield fence, it had to be removed from the game’s rotation.
“It was ripped,” Hampshire coach Jeremy Bauer said. “I don’t know if it hit a tree or what, but there was a pretty good tear in the cover.
“She can hit for power. She can hit for average. Bria is the complete player.”
Three innings later, Riebel took it a step further, ripping a triple into the right-center gap to complete hitting for the cycle. She lined out to center in the first but doubled in the second and beat out an infield single in the fourth.
“I’m pretty sure that’s my first time hitting or the cycle” Riebel said. “I had it in the back of my mind on that last at-bat. When it went to the fence in right-center, I figured that was a long throw.
“When I got to second, I figured I might as well try to stretch it out for a triple.”
Every starter in the lineup had at least one hit for Hampshire (21-10), which tied last season’s win total.
Sophomore left fielder Addi Edlen also hit a two-run homer for the Whip-Purs. Junior second baseman Allison LeBlanc, junior first baseman Mia Robinson, senior third baseman Chloe Van Horn and sophomore center fielder Julissa Akins added doubles.
Freshman outfielder Clara Lyons hit a three-run homer and senior right fielder Sloane Fisher chipped in with a two-run double for Geneva (7-22).
Riebel, a South Dakota State recruit, earned second team all-state honors last year but probably should have been first team. Bauer is pushing to make a case for his standout, who has 70 hits in 113 at bats with 26 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs, giving her 33 for her career.
She has scored 58 runs and driven in 59. Bauer believes she’ll finish in the top 10 in the state for career doubles.
“We go against Division I pitchers routinely and she doesn’t force the issue,” Bauer said. “She won’t try to hit home runs off those girls. She does what’s best for the team and tries to get on base.
“I don’t think there are 16 players better than her. You might be able to find five or six and maybe a pitcher who is awesome, but you won’t find 16 that are better.”
Riebel pointed out that teams are pitching her more carefully this season, but she has more power in her swing thanks to a training program sent to her by South Dakota State’s trainer.
“I get a lot of pitches thrown in on my hands and I get a lot of change-ups,” she said.
She’s hoping to finish strong and win a second regional title in her career.
Hampshire, which hosts a Class 4A regional, is seeded third but has already advanced to next Friday’s championship game since Rockford East doesn’t have enough players to finish the season and has forfeited Tuesday’s semifinal.
Hampshire will likely face second-seeded Rockton Hononegah.
“We’ll have a week layoff, but I think we have the team to do it,” Riebel said. “We’re all very close and have a good team dynamic.”