‘Better and better’: Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony is the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News
Junior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony has come a long method and so has Oswego in softball, with players getting determined today for state championship rings.
It’s no coincidence.
The first time coach Paul Netzel saw Anthony three years earlier at tryouts, he thought he had found a respectable university prospect in the freshman right-hander.
What he didn’t see right away, nevertheless, was the complete player the outgoing youngster with the strong arm and ever-present smile would become.
“We were split on whether to bring her up,” Netzel said of his training staff. “We knew we required another pitcher we might use in the rotation to support (sophomore) Aubriella Garza.”
Netzel, a retired instructor who had actually coached a variety of sports at various levels in high schools and colleges considering that 1967, felt confident Anthony could handle that role and made the call.
Anthony also played in the infield.
“Then, suddenly, she began hitting,” Netzel said. “I remember a home run at Geneva, a real blast, and all the kids were doing that ‘she’s a freshman’ chant in the dugout.
“We were astonished as anyone about her striking.”
Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony hits a two-run homer against Metea Valley throughout a Class 4A Oswego East Regional semifinal game on Tuesday, Might 27, 2025.(Sean King/ The Beacon-News)Undoubtedly, her.483 batting average this season pushed her profession mark to.409. Still, the Panthers primarily depended on excellent work
in the circle by the Purdue-bound Anthony– the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year– to win the Class 4A state title. Anthony set the program record for wins in a season, going 22-1 with a 1.55 age and 193 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings as Oswego(38-2)won its very first state title after taking 3rd last spring.
Unfinished organization has been completed, led by Anthony in the group’s 7-0 run to the title.
“She just keeps getting better and much better,” stated Annie Scaramuzzi, an Oswego alum who came aboard last season as pitching coach and after that became the program’s co-coach with Netzel. “Jaelynn plays much better in big games.”
Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony (20)end up
for a pitch against Neuqua Valley throughout the Class 4A Oswego East Regional championship game on Friday, Might 30, 2025.(Mark Black/ The Beacon-News)None were larger than Oswego’s seven postseason games. Anthony pitched all 48 innings and gave up just 23 hits and 16 strolls for an excellent.812 WHIP, which is walks and strikes per
inning. She started out 70 and enabled simply five runs for a 0.70 ERA. She depended on a fastball that one radar gun had her topping out at a personal-best 72 miles per hour in the state national championship against Barrington, along with a change-up, curve and rise.
“In 2015 she was dominant– this year even more so,” Scaramuzzi said “This year, she really acquired self-confidence after having done it in 2015. She wished to go out and have fun.”
Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony (20 )gets greeted by co-coach Paul Netzel after striking a two-run homer against Metea Valley throughout a Class 4A Oswego East Regional semifinal on Tuesday, Might 27, 2025.( Sean King/ The Beacon-News
)Anthony, who also holds the program’s career record for wins with 47, was especially impressive in 3 wins during the last week. It started Monday when she carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a 5-1 win over Marist, ending up with a one-hitter. She followed with a 13-2 rout in 6 innings over Oak Park-River Forest in Friday’s semifinal and a four-hitter in a 4-1 win over Barrington in Saturday’s last, both total games.
Anthony, who had two doubles and three RBIs in the semifinals, understands it’s not just her, though.
“Jaelynn’s fast to acknowledge she has a great offense backing her up along with a standout defense doing the exact same,” Scaramuzzi said. “That stage in Peoria, there’s a great deal of pressure.
“It’s why we emphasized a lot work on our middle infield defense this season.”
Oswego’s Jaelynn Anthony delivers a pitch against Yorkville during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Oswego on Thursday, Might 15, 2025. (Jon Cunningham/ The Beacon-News) Anthony has taken pitching lessons from St. Charles-based Jill Waldron considering that she was 12.
“She’s constantly positive and has a strong work principles,” Waldron said. “She’s never not focused however always giddy. She laughs at her errors however immediately flips a switch and goes to work to repair them.”
And here’s a scary proposal for challengers. Anthony believes there’s room for improvement.
“I’ve been trying to find out a drop ball and a drop curve,” she said.
Even though Oswego has to change six elders from 10 starters, consisting of the designated player, Anthony likes the Panthers’ chances again.
“We will be back,” she said. “It will absolutely be tough, however we’re gon na return and win.”