Junior Danielle Dempsey Named OLCHS Athlete Of The Month

OAK LAWN, IL — To say junior Danielle Dempsey has done it all for the Oak Lawn Community High School softball team this spring would be an understatement.

It did not matter what head coach Shawn Neubauer asked her to do, she did it at a high level. She moved from third base to the outfield and played stellar defense. She batted second in
the lineup and drove the ball with power.

“Danielle had a do whatever it takes attitude this year,” OLCHS Coach Neubauer said. “She has played third base for the majority of her varsity career and is now seeing time in the outfield and is doing a tremendous job tracking down fly balls.”

She played third base, first base, centerfield, rightfield, and even shortstop. She hit home runs, legged out triples, and drove in runs with doubles to the gap. Dempsey stood out wherever she played and whatever she did.

All that versatility earned her the honors of Oak Lawn’s Athlete of the Month for April. Dempsey hit .453 during the month with 29 hits, nine doubles, four triples, two homers, 18 RBIs, and 22 runs scored.

Dempsey was also named as all-conference selection the South Suburban Conference Red. For the overall season, she had 12 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 31 RBIs, and scored 36 runs. She finished the season with a .438 batting average and a slugging percentage of .656.

The team also recognized Dempsey for her defensive play by awarding her the Gold Glove Award at Spring Awards Night.

~ Contributed by Brian Frangella, OLCHS Feature Writer