The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team will have a different look without senior catcher Ella Alfano anchoring the defense from behind the dish.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, below, or purchase a new subscription.
Please log in to continue |
ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team will have a different look without senior catcher Ella Alfano anchoring the defense from behind the dish. A four-year varsity starter for the Lady Hubs, Alfano led Rochelle with a .271 batting average and 19 hits over 24 games during the 2024 season, where she recorded a team-best 15 singles and 13 RBIs.
Alfano was named an All-Conference First Team honoree in the Interstate 8 this season. It’s the first career All-Conference First Team nod for Alfano, who earned Rochelle’s High Batting Average award this season. The senior catcher threw out seven baserunners, picking off five, while finishing with Rochelle’s best fielding percentage (.988) over 133.2 innings played.
“It’s an honor because our conference has a lot of good softball players,” said Alfano, who was an All-Conference Honorable Mention as a junior. “I think my hitting has improved since the previous years. The infielders and I have worked hard to be able to throw girls out at the bases.”
Alfano was one of four seniors who played varsity softball for the Lady Hubs, who went 5-19 during the 2024 season. With a roster that consisted of largely freshmen, Alfano was tasked with stepping into a leadership role. The senior led Rochelle in total bases and followed up a successful defensive campaign in 2023, when she threw out five runners over 115.1 innings.
“I had to take more of a leadership role this year because we were so young, but the girls were easy to work with because they always worked hard,” Alfano said. “I enjoyed being with this team because we all knew each other for a long time and we all got along and they were always willing to work hard. I will miss the girls and our spring break trip to Jacksonville.”
Freshman Emma Heller took home an All-Conference Honorable Mention from the Interstate 8 this season. Heller pitched a team-high 95.2 innings and struck out a team-best 116 batters in the circle. The freshman appeared in 23 games, recording 12 hits including three doubles, one triple and one home run while totaling 12 RBIs.
