Highland softball sisters will continue playing careers together in Belleville

Abby and Alex Schultz were fixtures on the Highland High School softball field for the past four years.

After finishing their senior seasons in May, the Schultz sisters will be heading south to Belleville in under two months to continue their softball and school pursuits as freshmen at Southwestern Illinois College.

Alex Schultz is positively giddy and grateful for having two more years on the field with her sister Abby.

“It’s just a blessing that I could have somebody that I’ve played my whole life with and I’m definitely going to cherish these next two years,” Alex said.

Playing softball together at the next level was the perfect transition move for the Schultz sisters.

The twins were not initially expected to play at the college level together according to Alex.

“I don’t think that we ever really thought we would be going to school together like it wasn’t like something we had planned,” Alex said. “It just kind of happened.”

A visit to Southwestern Illinois late last July sold the sisters on the Blue Storm as the right choice for them.

“When we went on our visit, coach told us that have the best offer to give,” Alex said. “They pay for everything, so it’s just the best chance and I knew people that were going there and I just love the environment there.”

Sophomore infielder Maggie Grohmann, a former Bulldogs teammate, is on the roster and also helped sway the Schulz sisters to SWIC.

During the summer, the sisters have been going working out and playing summer ball with their club team Black Widows 05.

“We are trying to just stay in shape for the workouts we’re gonna have at SWIC and we’re still playing with our summer team, so I feel like that is very beneficial,” Alex said.

As far as roles Abby expects to be playing on the infield and Alex said that Coach Mike Juenger expects to most likely use her in the outfield this fall and next spring with the Blue Storm.

“I’m gonna be in the outfield, probably left or right and I typically play center but I’ll do whatever to help the team out, so whatever that means,” Alex said.