'Really freaking good': Versatile senior leads the state-ranked East Peoria softball team

DUNLAP — Changing positions yearly has really been no issue for Gracie Luna.

As a sophomore, she was the starting shortstop for East Peoria. Her junior year saw her slide over to third base. Now, the senior is splitting time between third base and catcher.

“I just want to go out there and do what I need to do for my team,” Luna said, “ ... It’s whatever they need and whatever position I’m put in, I try to do my best.”

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Luna’s top-notch play has put East Peoria in contention for another Mid-Illini Conference softball title. The Raiders, who are ranked No. 4 among Class 3A schools by the Illinois Coaches Association, shared the league crown last season with Metamora and Washington.

This year, EP is using its strong offense, averaging 7.4 runs a game, and stingy defense and pitching to make another postseason run with the two-time all-M-I first-teamer leading the charge.

“We’ve been together for quite a while now,” EP sophomore Keearrah Brown said, noting the pair have been teammates since grade school, “and she’s probably one of the best leaders that I’ve seen besides (now graduated) Bri Despines.

“… She’s a great person to be around. She loves the game. I’m super excited to see what she does in college, and I love her on and off the field.”

A leader on the field

Despines, who is now starring at Kent State, laid the foundation for leadership, according to Luna. The duo was close and were in constant communication with each other about the ins and outs of the game.

Sophomore Sophia Revallo, who shares catching duties with Luna, is now getting that wisdom.

“I try to use my knowledge to their advantage,” Luna said, “and try to show them what to do.”

Hitting might be the best lesson the other EP players can take from Luna. She’s batting .537 on 22 hits with four doubles, four home runs, while posting 14 RBIs and scoring 16 runs over 41 at-bats.

This comes from an offseason of putting in countless hours in the batting cage and making every possible adjustment to perfect her craft.

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“The kid puts in so much work,” East Peoria coach Denee Menzione said. “She thinks about her swing … she fine arts that. She’s a tough out. There’s no pitch that she really can’t handle. You might get her once but getting her two, three times is going to be real tough to do.

“As a pitcher on the mound and Gracie Luna in the box, it’s not someone I would want to be.”

Added Brown, “Her bat — really freaking good. You throw her anything and she’ll take it as far as she wants to.”

This comes after a 2022 campaign where Luna hit .350 on 43 hits with 12 doubles, eight home runs, drove in 48 runs and scored 30 in 123 at-bats.

“I’ve definitely learned to find my pitch,” she said. “Some (teams) are going to go at me, and some (teams) are going to pitch around me, so I try to find my pitch and whatever comes at me, I try to do my best with.”

The next level

The next stop for Luna will be Southeast Missouri State University of the Ohio Valley Conference. She signed to play at the Cape Girardeau, Misssouri-based campus in December.

Several factors including the coaching style, SEMO’s success within the OVC and the culture created by head coach Mark Redburn played into her decision.

“Coach Redburn really showed me what family is all about there,” Luna said.

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Expectations are high for the Raiders, who will face Metamora next Thursday. Luna says EP is locked in, taking each outing as they come and not looking past anyone.

So, for now, college will have to wait as she enjoys her classmates and the final month of the regular season.

“This is what high school softball is all about,” Luna said, “so getting to play with my best friends for the last year is amazing.”

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball: Gracie Luna the versatile leader for state-ranked East Peoria