ROCHELLE — Bella Lodico starred throughout her four-year varsity softball career at Rochelle Township High School, earning All-Conference honors as the team’s ace in the pitcher’s circle. 

Lodico, who credited her father Kent and her grandfather Joe for their mentorship and support throughout her high school career as well as her successful collegiate career at Benedictine, rejoined the RTHS softball program as a volunteer assistant last year. It marked the first time that Bella would get to coach softball alongside her father, also an assistant for the Lady Hubs. 

“My dad and I see eye to eye on calling pitches and knowing what works for the girls and what doesn’t,” Bella said. “We bring a lot of energy to the team and our voices really carry and bring a lot of energy to the program. We’re able to work together as a team and we have fun as well because coaching brings a different perspective than playing... If my grandpa didn’t push me as hard as he did growing up, I wouldn’t be here coaching. I looked up to him and he’s been such a role model. With his age and his years of coaching, he knows what he’s talking about.”

On Friday, three generations of Lodicos came together on the diamond as Rochelle welcomed Rockford Lutheran to town for its nonconference varsity matchup. The Lodicos sat in opposite dugouts, as Bella and Kent coached the Lady Hubs and Joe, the head coach of the Crusaders, observed from the visitors dugout. While Kent had coached against his father during previous seasons, Friday was the first time all three Lodicos coached in the same high school game.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my dad and my grandpa,” Bella said. “Softball was the main thing I focused on and being coached by both of them and now coaching with my dad, it’s been a blessing to give back to the sport I love to play. My grandpa would always come to my games in high school and college and I'm very grateful to have that kind of support system. Three generations is important for us because you never know when it’ll be your last time playing on the field or coaching, so we take every moment as it is and we don’t take anything for granted.”

Rochelle cruised over the Crusaders, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the third inning and tallying three more in the bottom of the fourth inning to clinch a 15-0 victory. The camaraderie continued afterward, with the Lady Hubs hosting the Rockford Lutheran girls for a postgame cookout. For Joe, coaching against his son and granddaughter was a special moment and a chance to continue bonding over a sport that carries great significance for the Lodico family.

“I asked her to come to Lutheran and help,” Joe said with a smile. “I’ve been coaching softball at Lutheran for four years and this is the fourth time we’ve played against each other. It’s good camaraderie with my son and granddaughter and it’s nice to keep softball in the family because it’s a sport we all love. I’ll be 87 in December and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll do this.”

The Lady Hubs (5-13, 0-4 Interstate 8) took the early lead on Friday, tallying two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Madigan Williams led off the frame with a single and freshman Mya Martinez blasted a double to center in the next at-bat. Martinez went 4 for 4 and scored four runs for the Lady Hubs, who went ahead 2-0 after an RBI groundout from senior Lauren Dyer and an RBI double from sophomore Camryn Metzger, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

An infield single in the top of the second inning was the only hit of the game for the Crusaders, as Dyer locked down the Rockford Lutheran offense from the pitcher’s circle. The senior threw all four innings for the Lady Hubs, striking out six batters on just 39 pitches without allowing a run. Dyer, who didn’t walk a single batter in the victory, threw just eight balls in the game.

Back-to-back singles from sophomore Jaclynn Lira and freshman Cheyenne Somers sparked a three-run effort in the bottom of the second inning, where Martinez singled to load the bases for Dyer, who brought home two runners on a two-RBI double off the left-center field wall. Dyer notched three hits and collected a team-high and a season-best seven RBIs in the victory.

“I was just trying to swing at strikes because I haven’t been doing that as often recently,” Dyer said. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard… It’s a big confidence booster for us to win because it shows that we can play and we can win. I think we’re seeing the ball well and we’re hitting the ball hard. Our baserunning was a lot better today and I thought we were playing as a team.”

Metzger’s RBI groundout capped off the three-run frame for the Lady Hubs, who extended their lead with an explosive bottom half of the third inning, where Rochelle erupted for seven runs on eight hits including a three-run, inside-the-park home run from Dyer. Somers and Williams each ripped RBI doubles for the Lady Hubs, who clinched their win with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Somers and Williams each recorded three hits and three runs in the victory.

The Lady Hubs concluded the fourth inning with three consecutive run-scoring hits including back-to-back RBI singles from Dyer and Metzger, whose soft line drive into right field ended the game. Rochelle totaled 20 hits and drew two walks while striking out just twice in the win.