Joliet West’s Avery Houlihan ready for next step at Notre Dame – Shaw Local

Joliet West shortstop Avery Houlihan had no shortage of options when it came time to choose a college where she would continue her athletic and academic career.

It turns out the right choice was the one she had dreamed of.

Houlihan will attend and play softball for the University of Notre Dame. It was a pretty easy choice for her.

“I’ve had some interest from a few Big 10 schools and a few SEC schools,” Houlihan said. “I’m Catholic and I wanted to stay close to home, so Notre Dame has always been my dream. When they contacted me, I was so excited.

“Then I went to visit him and I just loved the campus. I felt like I was at home. I met some players and got along very well with them. I will receive a top education and be able to play softball at a great school.

Houlihan, who plans to major in finance, has been Joliet West’s leadoff hitter since his sophomore season. She has undergone a slight transformation in her career, going from a slap-only hitter to one who now has the ability to slap, but can also take full swing and deal extra damage.

His ability to get on base and produce runs, along with his excellent defensive work at shortstop, helped the Tigers get off to a 15-10 start while averaging nearly six runs per game. In a game at the WJOL tournament earlier this season, Houlihan hit two home runs against junior Lisabella Dimitrijevic of Lincoln-Way Central, who has committed to Florida State. Soon, the two will face off in college as opponents in the ACC.

Houlihan credits coach Jerry Quinn of the Illinois Chill, her summer travel team, for helping her adjust her swing.

“I joined Illinois Chill after my sophomore year,” she said. “They really helped me prepare to play at the college level. Initially I was just a hitter and I have come a long way. I’m able to take full swing now whenever I want. It’s great because I often find runners on base because our team knows how to get out of it.

“But I also still have the ability to slap if we need to so I can get on base for some of the people behind me in the lineup.”

Houlihan has six home runs this season, second on the team behind cleanup hitter Brooke Schwall’s eight.

With Houlihan and company constantly on base, the shelter is in a constant state of excitement. As a result, the Tigers might have the loudest dugout in the area from start to finish.

“We have non-stop energy,” Houlihan said. “Everyone is still in the dugout and we’re still cheering each other on. We try to keep that energy consistent throughout the game, and we usually succeed.

Houlihan’s offensive and defensive abilities also attracted the attention of opposing coaches.

“Houlihan really gets them going offensively,” Joliet Central coach Jonathan Rashid said after recently facing the Tigers. “She can hit a single to get it on base, or if there are runners to drive in, she can hit it hard and drive it into a gap.

“Then when she’s at shortstop, there’s not a lot that gets through to her. She does plays that other girls don’t do.

Before heading to South Bend, Houlihan has a season to finish with her teammates.

“We have big goals,” she said. “We want to win a regional and go as far as possible in the playoffs. Everyone contributes to the success of our team and we want to use that.

“We want to continue to do the little things well, like hitting the ball hard and trusting our teammates. If we can do that, we should be in good shape.