Lockport’s Rheanna Slavicek, a reliable defender and Olivet Nazarene recruit, showcased her skill and composure during a crucial 4-1 victory over Lincoln-Way West on Friday. With two on and two out in the seventh inning, Warriors’ batter Reese Cusack launched a fly ball to left field, presenting a challenging defensive opportunity for Slavicek. The game was already affected by a dust storm and strong winds, making it even more difficult to gauge the ball’s trajectory. "It was very hard to gauge," Slavicek stated. "I thought it was going over one way and then it tailed in another way. It was pretty tricky."

Despite the adverse conditions, Slavicek executed a spectacular catch, securing the victory for Lockport (21-9, 10-4). She then contributed offensively, leading the team with a home run, two singles, and a .443 batting average, boosted further by Taylor Lane’s two hits and two RBIs. However, the Porter’s had a setback in the fifth inning when shortstop Mikayla Cvitanovich was injured after a bad hop to the face. McGraw (12-6) pitched the win and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings, bringing her up to 190 for the season.

Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec has been observing Slavick’s performance for four years, having promoted her to varsity during her freshman season. Slavicek’s leadership is a key element of the team’s success; she consistently motivates her teammates. She plans to major in elementary education with the end goal of teaching third grade. Her inspiration stems from Reed School third-grade teacher Jinger Billquist, whom she admired and sought to emulate. "I liked her class, and I want to show passion for those kids like she showed for us," Slavicek explained. "During middle school, I was asked to volunteer to teach players about softball and I really liked the girls."