Bolingbrook Senior Eryn Pondo Leads on the Mound, Classroom

The days are numbered for high school seniors as the countdown for graduation continues.

And as the Bolingbrook softball team draws closer to the end of its season, senior pitching ace Eryn Pondo and the Lady Raiders look to put the finishing touches in place before the state playoffs begin.

For Pondo, it will mark the end of an era.

After joining the varsity squad in her freshman year, Pondo played her sophomore campaign on the sophomore team to work on her pitching technique.

“She does anything you ask her to do,” said Bolingbrook head coach Jean Ryan-Moak. “She is so versatile on the mound. She’s also got a good bat. She has started over half our games in the last two years.”

Although Pondo picked up the loss last week, she had a quality start throwing four innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs with one strikeout.  

Pondo was an integral part of the Lady Raiders' historic 2009-10 season, in which the Lady Raiders went a school-best 21-10.

This season, Pondo has an on-base percentage of .328 and leads the team in fielding percentage.

“I was feeling good,” Pondo said after Wednesday’s loss to Lockport. “Coach didn’t want me to have to pitch too long because of how humid it is."

Pondo, who is in the top 10 percent of her class, is attending school next year at Benedictine University in Lisle. She will continue her softball career there.

With the advice of her chemistry teacher, Pondo said she plans to do something in the sciences. While she doesn’t know yet what she will do with her major, she's leaning towards chemistry.

“Pondo has been a good leader for three years,” said Ryan-Moak. “She is a good player with a great attitude and is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team.  She is the true definition of a team player."