Lincoln-Way Central pitching standout wins softball honor

She had a 26-3 record with a 0.54 ERA, 354 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 169 2/3 innings.

The Florida State University commit also was formidable with a bat as she hit .405 with eight homers and 42 RBI.

When the summer ends, she will join the Croation National Team in the Women’s Softball European Championships in Netherlands.

Off the field, Dimitrijevic is a volunteer at the Bayer/Hypertension Association, assisting patients with limited mobility. She also is a youth pitching instructor.

“Bella could possibly be the most dominant pitcher I have come across in 15-plus years of high school softball,” Lincoln-Way West coach Heather Novak said in a news release. “She has a truly special ability on the mound to throw with great velocity in incredible movement.”

Novak was the Gatorade Illinois Softball Player of the Year in 2000-2001.

The Illinois Baseball Coaches Association announced its all-state team.

It includes: Lincoln-Way East senior shortstop Tyler Bell, Sandburg senior pitcher Nick Bestrick, Lincoln-Way West junior pitcher/outfielder Conor Essenburg and state-champion Providence Catholic junior infield Nate O’Donnell and senior shortstop Jackson Smith.

The Illinois Prep Baseball Report team also announced its top players in the Land of Lincoln.

Smith, O’Donnell and Essenburg made the first team. Bell, Lincoln-Way Central senior third baseman Landon Mensik and Tinley Park junior outfielder Nolan Maciejewski made the second team.

Bestrick, Lincoln-Way Central junior pitcher Luke Mensik and Providence Catholic junior pitcher Cooper Eggert were named to the third team.

The Illinois Softball Coaches Association’s all-state teams are filled with area players.

In Class 4A, Lincoln-Way Central’s Bella Dimitrijevic and senior infielder Josephine Jager, Lincoln-Way East sophomore infielder Cassidy Jagielski, Andrew junior infielder MaTaia Lawson and Lincoln-Way West sophomore pitcher Reese Rourke made the first team.

Andrew senior catcher Madison Vrastil, Lincoln-Way East sophomore infielder Molly Finn, Andrew senior infielder Maddie Hanik, Lincoln-Way East sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Bacha, Lincoln-Way Central’s senior outfielder Kendall Pearson and Lincoln-Way East senior outfielder Averi Vander Woude were second-team members.

Andrew junior infielder Ana Cisek, Lincoln-Way Central junior infielder Kayla Doerre, Lincoln-Way East senior infielder Lea Herkel and Lincoln-Way West sophomore pitcher/infielder Reese Cusack made the third team.

In Class 3A, Tinley Park junior outfielder Megan Piotrowski made the Class 3A first team while Providence Catholic senior infielder Sophia Thornmeyer and senior pitcher Kailee O’Sullivan and Tinley Park’s Natalie Gomez made the second team.

Providence sophomore outfielder Angelina Cole was selected to the third team.

The High School Football America Organization picked its preseason 1,000 teams.

Illinois has 25 teams represented including all three Lincoln-Ways — East, West and Central.

• Jonas Williams, a junior transfer quarterback at Lincoln-Way East, has added the University of Alabama to the list of major colleges that have extended him offers.
• Providence Catholic grad and current Atlanta United FC goalie Brad Guzan recently notched his 131st career shutout on a Major League Soccer, Premier League or the U.S. Men’s National team.
• The Major Movez Basketball Review named the top 100 Illinois Major Ballers and Lincoln-Way East’s BJ Powell and Brent Taylor, Providence Catholic’s Seth Chaney and Brother Rice’s Marcos Gonzalez (of Tinley Park) made the list.
• Orland Park will host a Vintage Base Ball game at 1 p.m. July 13 at Stellwagen Farm, 17701 108th Ave. Cost is $10 for nonresidents and $5 for residents.