McGinnis Makes it as This Week's Whiz Kid

Our Whiz Kid for this week is Allison "Alli" McGinnis.

She's quiet and likes to let her play on the field speak for itself. She is reluctant to be in the spotlight, but appreciates the acknowledgment of her efforts when noticed.

She played junior varsity softball as a freshman and was moved up to varsity for the playoffs that season. Alli made varsity as a sophomore, hit her first home run that year off of Northwestern-bound Olivia Duehr of Antioch, and played outfield and catcher.

This year as a junior, she is one of only five players to return to the team - three seniors and two juniors. She has played outfield, catcher and first base this year. Her near-constant contact at the plate is exceptional for a power hitter. Coach Michaela Towne has counted on her to perform this year and she is getting it done.

During the summer, Alli may have the toughest position to play - the daughter of her coach. Alli has played for the Lake Zurich Baseball and Softball Association since she has 5 yrs old, when she and her brother played together on the Pink Panthers.

At the age of 9, she starting playing travel softball on the LZBSA Lake Zurich Lightning 12u team. She played at the 12u level for four years, 14u for a year, 16u for two years and is now playing at the 18u level this summer. Alli had a batting average of .545 last summer at 16u.

Alli and most of her teammates have played up in age so the team can stay together to accommodate the "older" ones on the team due to the age cutoffs, a true testament to the fact that ultimately friendships are more important than winning a softball game. But winning they still do, raking up many W's throughout the summer. 

Alli has had the opportunity to play for more "elite" travel programs and get increased college exposure, but she has decided playing for and representing her hometown is important to her, as are the friendships she has created with her teammates.

When she was 9, there was very little interest in the LZBSA girls travel program, so little that LZBSA considered discontinuing it. One last gasp for the program back then blossomed the program into what is now - a solid fundamental feeder program for the high school. Alli and her current teammates were part of that last gasp effort to resurrect the program. If Alli would have left the LZBSA travel program, the common thought is that the travel program would have ended.

With the help of Coach Towne, Alli has developed a great understanding of the game and has developed into one of the leaders of the team on and off the field, taking some of the freshmen under her wing and hanging out with them. Most importantly, she has become a great representative of LZHS softball and the Lake Zurich community. A family friend said this of Alli: "Loyal, hard-working, determined, under the radar, leader, in general just a good kid are what comes to mind in describing Alli."