Word up, Foxes.
It’s playoff time for senior shortstop Bella Phillips and her Yorkville teammates, and that means sporting their very own word or phrase of the day on their forearm for game day. It’s a practice that can help ease the tension in one-loss-and-you’re-done games.
It can inspire, remind or simply be fun.
“We very much have a family chemistry and we all buy into the season and we work really hard and push each other,” said Phillips, described by Foxes coach Jory Regnier as a natural leader who plays a key role in building her team’s culture.
Phillips was among three key contributors bearing apropos messages in a 10-0 five-inning win Tuesday over Waubonsie Valley in a Class 4A Yorkville Regional semifinal — Phillips with “Bunny,” junior catcher Kayla Kersting with “Beast mode” and junior pitcher Ellie Fox with “Confidence.”
Fourth-seeded Yorkville (23-12) advances to a 4:30 p.m. Friday regional final against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between fifth-seeded Plainfield East and 12th-seeded Naperville North.
Phillips, meanwhile, got Yorkville rolling against 13th-seeded Waubonsie Valley (9-20) with an RBI single to highlight a three-run first inning. She then sliced a liner toward the right field line and legged out an RBI triple in the third.
She celebrated with a rabbit-like hop at the third base bag to the delight of teammates in the nearby dugout.
“‘Bunny’ is from softball,” said Phillips, who’s also a starting guard in basketball. “It’s like my alter ego. I have like a funny (high-pitched) voice that goes with it, keeping like a positive mindset and cheering on the team.”
Phillips isn’t sure how that started, but after one of the assistant coaches heard Phillips doing the voice, Kersting said it became like a running joke from there that has helped keep the team loose.
“She’s so funny — she’s our comic,” said Kersting, the team’s power-hitting leadoff hitter.
Kersting hit three deep outfield drives into the wind that might have gone out on a calm day, running out two for triples. She was robbed by sophomore center fielder Dezirae Kelly with an outstanding sliding catch at the fence.
“Kayla brings the big hits for us for sure,” said Phillips, a defensive standout who has held up her end at the plate by hitting .337 with three doubles, four triples and 15 RBIs.
Kersting, who leads the team with a gaudy .598 average to go with 12 triples, 10 homers and 38 RBIs, didn’t mind having to work for her hits Tuesday.
“I like running the bases,” Kersting said. “It’s pretty easy to get triples here if you hit it in the gap, with the eight-foot fence all the way around. You really have to hit it to get it out.”
Fox, a hard-throwing junior right-hander, pitched with confidence for the win, striking out six and giving up only three hits and a walk in her four innings.
“She did a great job,” Regnier said of Fox. “Came in and was lights out.”
Freshman righty Bella Rosauer struck out two in the fifth inning to get some playoff experience.
This postseason run will be it for Phillips and her athletic career, however. She plans to attend Iowa State and major in marketing.
“I think she’s had a phenomenal year,” Regnier said of Phillips. “She just really has put it all out there. She’s that person that helps get everything together and organizes, makes sure things get done the way they’re supposed to get done.
“She has high standards and is part of a senior group that’s big on our culture.”
Over the last six seasons, it has helped Regnier’s Foxes win 75% of their games by compiling a 155-51 record.
“Bella will do anything for the team,” Regnier said. “She even went behind the plate last year when Kayla was hurt. She didn’t love it, but she’d do it tomorrow if we asked and do her best.
“She’s kind of the glue.”