Kane County Reporter

Illini softball catcher Emily Brodner's freshman year was off to a fantastic start until a foot to the midsection put the former St. Charles North High School star's collegiate career on hold.

She had played in 11 games during the 2015 season, starting 6 of them. She was playing well defensively, with a .947 fielding percentage and was leading the Big Ten with 6 out of 18 stealing runners thrown out.

Then during a game March 7, 2015 at UCLA, Brodner was blocking the plate when she was hit by player at home plate.  She stayed in the game and even drew a walk before being pinch run for. Later that night she went to the emergency room, and a CAT scan later that week revealed a kidney tear. The injury ended up costing Brodner the rest of her freshman season.

"After my injury, I felt like it was going to be a long and difficult recovery," Brodner told the Kane County Reporter. "It was hard not being able to practice or travel to games with the team, but I was able to get a medical hardship waiver that will let me play a 5th year."

The injury put on hold what seemed like a career destined for greatness. There was no stronger sign of that than Brodner's first college hit, a second-inning solo home run against Tennessee-Martin.

 "I can remember as soon as I made contact with the ball I knew it was a home run," she said. "I have hit home runs in the past, but this was my first at the Division 1 level. I think the best part about my first career hit was that this was also the first weekend my dad came to watch me play. I'm happy that he was able to be a part of this moment with me."

Brodner rebounded in 2016 in a strong way, becoming the Illini's starting catcher, starting all but one game. She batted .225 with 13 RBIs, and a sterling fielding percentage of .977. She said that it was the starting catcher position that motivated her during her rehab.

 "Once I was fully cleared, I decided I wanted to come back in better shape then before," Brodnar said. "What I thought about when working my way back was that the starting catching position was open and that I needed to work hard to earn the spot. This motivated me to push myself."

With a full season under her belt, it stands to reason that Brodner enters 2017 as the starter at catcher for Illini. She says that after a historically successful season for the team last year, she's looking for bigger and better in the season to come.

 "I'm looking forward to playing for Coach Perry again and for an even better season in 2017," Brodner said. "This year we made history by making regionals for the first time since 2010. We now know what it's like to go to post season and what it takes to get there. In 2017, we're going to go even farther in post season. I can't wait to experience it all again."