LILLY BEVERAGE
HILLDALE HIGH SCHOOL
Hitting in baseball and softball might be described as an art. And hitting leadoff in the lineup might be another layer of art. If so, then Hilldale Hornet leadoff hitter Lilly Beverage painted a masterpiece last year. As a sophomore she hit .443 with 35 hits and DIDN’T STRIKE OUT ONCE!
“When I bat, I’m thinking about what pitch the pitcher throws that I feel I can hit somewhere in the field all the time. The leadoff hitter has to be super selective about what to swing at and be able to foul off a lot of pitches waiting for that special pitch. I usually look to swing at the first pitch of the game thinking it will be a fast ball down the middle that she’ll throw to get settled in, “said the junior second baseman.
Lilly has received her inspiration from several sources as she’s grown up in softball from the age of three.
“I’ve always watched OU softball and have admired the job that (coach) Patty Gasso has done. My grandpa was a big source of motivation for me until he passed away a year ago. My dad is always encouraging me, and my mom is hard on me but motivates me to want to be better. Jesus Christ is also a big motivator for me. If I ever doubt or worry, I call on the Lord and pray that he will take care of everything and because I trust in Him, I know I will get the answer I need eventually,” said Beverage who also plays soccer and has played basketball for the Hornets.
A special moment for Lilly at Hilldale came two years ago when the Hornets went to state. Lilly was the only freshman starter and had one of the only hits in their semifinal loss to top ranked Lone Grove. The Hornets fell short of making state last year with a handful of sophomores starting but with just one senior gone off that team, Hilldale looks to be in great position to go to state again. And Lilly Beverage’s goal for this year? “To have another season with no strikeouts and get back to state.”
