Sept. 8, 2011

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Less than four months ago, Danielle Zymkowitz was racing around the bases at Eichelberger Field, setting benchmarks for success for future Orange and Blue players to strive to meet, while leaving her name scrawled everywhere in the Illinois record book. Back on campus to wrap up her degree and coach with Fighting Illini softball, Zymkowitz returns as a world champion following a breakout season with the Chicago Bandits in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).

"It was surreal to be part of the team and win at the highest level," Zymkowitz said. "Going from the pre-season tryouts all the way through the regular season to going undefeated in the postseason was just perfect. Being in that dog-pile when we won was one of the best feelings."

After wrapping up her career with Illinois at Minnesota on May 14 - ending as the all-time leader in batting average, hits, runs scored, stolen bases, stolen bases attempts and stolen base percentage - Zymkowitz was immediately called upon by Chicago. Out of Rosemont, Ill., the Bandits are one of four teams playing in the NPF league, with the USSSA Pride, Akron Racers and NPF Diamonds. Following a one-day tryout that involved Zymkowitz showing her abilities at second base, in the outfield, in the batter's box and on the base paths, the Bandits offered the West Hills, Calif., native a spot on the roster. Zymkowitz drove back to the University of Illinois to pack her things and returned immediately to begin training in Chicago, and start living out her dream of playing professional softball.

"We each received a number and, by the end, those who attended the try-out were brought together," said Zymkowitz on how she found out she had been chosen. "The Bandits' staff announced which numbers would be given the chance to stay on. After calling mine, they brought me down into the dugout and began explaining that I needed to return [to Champaign] to get my belongings and come right back to Chicago to start training if I wanted to play."

After a short preseason, during which Zymkowitz needed to adjust to facing former All-American pitchers every game, the Bandits broke camp with the Chaminade High School graduate serving as a bench player during the opening series.

"When I came in, I was more in awe that I was playing against some of the best players ever to compete in softball," Zymkowitz said. "I joke about it now, but my first at bat of the season, against [former NCAA Division-I strikeouts record-holder] Cat Osterman, I didn't swing at all and struck out on three pitches in a row."

In spite of the initial difficulty, according to Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan, who recruited Zymkowitz to become an Illini and guided her through her four-year career, Zymkowitz's undeniable love for the game and her physical tools as an athlete led her to find success and earn her way onto the diamond.

"Danielle is like a kid on the field with her love for the game, but plays softball as well as anyone competing today," Sullivan said. "When I went to watch Danielle play this summer, [current Bandits' catcher] Shannon Doepking said to me after the game that she absolutely loves playing with Danielle and that Danielle reminds her why she plays the game and why she loves it. Danielle will always work very hard to be the best; she is ultra- competitive and wants to be the best and loves to play the game. Her skills are great, she is a smart hitter and she always stays focused in the batter's box."

After playing as a reserve and connecting for two hits in 12 at bats over the first three weekends, Zymkowitz took control of the starting second baseman role at the end of June and never relinquished it, playing out the rest of the season while finishing second on the team with a .298 batting average (31-for-104). Zymkowitz's average may appear low in comparison to her collegiate career mark of .384; however, it placed her sixth overall among qualifying hitters in NPF - behind only those of former All-Americans Natasha Watley, Jessica Mendoza, Ashley Charters, Alissa Goler and Charlotte Morgan.

"I just focused on seeing the ball," Zymkowitz said. "At the pro level, a pitcher will only throw you one strike in the whole at bat, so if you miss that chance you will be facing her junk pitches the rest of the time. I wanted to take advantage of that one pitch in every at bat so that I didn't have to play defense on offense and battle with the pitcher."

Much like her ability to immediately adapt to the college game as a starting second baseman during her freshman year at Illinois, Zymkowitz credits her teammates with helping her adjust to the abilities of pitchers at the professional level.

"We always communicated about who we were playing against and if you had any previous experiences against them. It is easier to face your opponent and transition into the game at this level with the help of everyone on the team, especially the veterans who had been playing in the league for five or six years."

Zymkowitz also credits the entire team when asked how they fought through the regular season and swept two higher-seeded teams in separate best-of-three playoff series to come away with Chicago's second Cowles Cup Championship in the last four seasons.

"Even though we were entering the playoffs in third place, from the beginning of the season, with such a close-knit team, we were confident we would win the championship," Zymkowitz said. "We were talking about it almost every single day, every day we were getting ready to play for the championship. Last season, the Bandits won the regular season but not the Cowles Cup. This year we just wanted to figure out everything that would hold us back and work on it every day in practice. We just knew we were going to win it from the beginning, our group of girls."

During the playoffs, Zymkowitz batted .300, including going 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the first NPF playoff game of her career. In that contest against Akron, Zymkowitz scored from first base on a double in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie, putting Chicago ahead for good in their eventual 8-1 victory - their first of four consecutive wins to capture the championship.

With the Cowles Cup ring secured, Zymkowitz now returns to Champaign as a student coach, looking to impart her wisdom on all of the incoming and returning Illini. However, when the Orange and Blue wrap up their spring competitive schedule, Zymkowitz will make the drive North once again if given the chance.

"Absolutely," said Zymkowitz, with emphasis, when asked if she plans to re-join the Bandits for the 2012 season. "I would love to be playing for Chicago again next summer! This has been a dream come true."