Don’t worry, Richards’ Violet McIntyre doesn’t bet on high school softball games.
She does, however, put money on herself — literally — to get the job done in clutch situations.
Before every game, the senior second baseman uses eyeblack to draw dollar signs on either side of her face.
“Of course,” McIntyre said, smiling. “Be money. Cash money, yolo swag.”
Yolo, as in, you only live once.
She was all of that and more Wednesday for the host Bulldogs in a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Mother McAuley in a Class 4A Richards Regional semifinal game in Oak Lawn.
McIntyre started the winning rally with a key double for Richards (20-7). Christa Klonowski had the clinching hit. Sophomore right-hander Emily Chavosky went the distance, striking out four.
Abbey Williams came through with an RBI single for McAuley (9-19). Gen Condon added two hits.
McIntyre did a lot to keep the Bulldogs’ season alive.
The Mighty Macs had already taken a 1-0 lead and were threatening in the top of the fifth when she backpedaled from her position at second base to snare what was looking to be a base hit.
“I knew I needed to get that,” McIntyre said. “I just took a hard step back and tried my best to reach as far as I could.”
The defensive gem brought a big sigh of relief from Chavosky.
“Yeah, I definitely took a deep breath after that one,” Chavosky said. “My heart did drop a little bit, but I knew I had a good defense behind me. Knowing that she was there, I still had a lot of confidence that the play would be made.”
That was just the beginning.
McAuley was desperate to get something started in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, however, McIntyre sent a rope down the left field line for a double.
“I just got in the box, and as soon as I got my pitch I was ready to rip it,” McIntyre said. “After I did, I just ran as fast as I could.”
She also ran as smart as she could, scoring from second base when Olivia Coglianese reached on an error.
“It felt really good,” McIntyre said. “It was a high-risk, high-reward play.”
With two outs, Klonowski then put the Bulldogs in front with a sharp grounder that skipped into left-center.
“I just kept thinking going into the box, ‘You have to hit it, you have to hit it,’” Klonowski said. “I wanted to do it for my team, and for my parents, and everyone who was there.”
Someone who has been there all season is McIntyre, who is hitting .358. She has been a standout at second base with a .927 fielding percentage.
Richards coach Julie Folliard calls her a “part of our fiber.” She isn’t short on friends, either.
“Her character has been outstanding from the beginning,” Folliard said. “The kids love her. She’s just rock solid, a super-hard worker. She dances on the field. She’s singing the school fight song.
“She does a little bit of everything.”
McIntyre made a major impact on Chavosky during her freshman season.
“She was a junior when I was a freshman, and it was a real pick-me-up to see her out there,” Chavosky said. “She was one of my biggest mentors. She got me acclimated to the team, socially and in the softball world as well.”
McIntyre brought the swagger but also understood stability.
“I knew Emily would be a big part of our team,” McIntyre said. “She was younger, and a freshman on the team tend to be nervous sometimes. I just wanted to be helpful.”
She did a good job. In 2023, Chavosky pitched the Bulldogs to a Class 3A supersectional. Now, it’s so far, so good in McIntyre’s grand finale.
“It’s been so much fun,” McIntyre said. “I am surrounded by the greatest team ever. They are so supportive.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
