Boyer joins Bunte to create formidable one-two punch for QND softball team’s pitching staff

QUINCY — Madalyn Boyer used to fear facing Caitlin Bunte.

“I’ve always struggled hitting off of her,” Boyer said. “Everybody struggles hitting off of her.”

Now there is no need to fear. 

Boyer, a senior pitcher and third baseman who transferred from Illini West to Quincy Notre Dame prior to this school year, will combine with Bunte, a senior left-handed hurler committed to the University of Indianapolis, to form a pitching tandem unlike few Eric Orne has had the luxury of deploying in his 27 seasons as QND coach.

“I think it’s only happened once in my years of coaching softball here where we’ve really had 1A and 1B,” Orne said.

Boyer compiled a 3.80 ERA in 145 ⅓ innings with the Chargers last season. She also posted a .324 batting average, .447 on-base percentage and .515 slugging percentage while hitting three home runs and driving in a team-high 24 runs.

Boyer did not have a similar fortune against Bunte. In the lone meeting between the Chargers and Raiders last season on May 11, Boyer faced Bunte twice, striking out looking both times. Bunte tossed six scoreless innings, only allowed one hit and struck out 12 batters in a 6-0 Raiders win that day.

“I started really hearing about her sophomore year, then last year when we played here, I couldn’t hit off her,” Boyer said.

As a junior, Bunte followed up a first-team all-state sophomore season by once again earning all-state plaudits, this time on the second team with a sparkling 1.09 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 128 ⅔ innings in the circle while also hitting .518 with 16 doubles and two home runs.

“She’s amazing,” Boyer said of Bunte.

Bunte likewise gave Boyer praise for the versatility and talent she brings to the Raiders.

“She’s an amazing person, and she’s just a great player all around, so we’re excited to have her not only on the mound but in the field, as well,” Bunte said. “She can just do so many things.”

Bunte said Boyer’s presence in the circle along with Madalyn’s sister Josie Boyer, a freshman who will serve as the Raiders’ third pitcher, takes some pressure off of her left arm.

“Our whole team is just so happy that we have so many options on the mound,” Bunte said. “We have really good pitchers all the way around. It’s just great that if something doesn’t work here, we can switch to another person and maybe their specialty will work better in that game. It’s so cool to be able to move pieces around like that.”

Madalyn Boyer, who pitched 84 percent of Illini West’s innings last season, is also thankful to have a pitcher of Bunte’s caliber to to share the workload.

“I felt like I put pressure on myself because I had to keep pitching,” Boyer said. “Knowing that I can struggle sometimes and that I have someone who can go in for me has taken a lot of pressure off of me.”

The Raiders relied on Bunte for 81 percent of their innings in the circle last season, and Orne said he and his coaching staff had to monitor Bunte, who was dealing with lingering shoulder pain late in the season. The Raiders won their fifth consecutive regional title before bowing out to Stanford Olympia 9-6 in the Williamsville Sectional semifinals, a game the Raiders led 6-4 in the top of the seventh before the Spartans scored five runs with two outs.

Orne expects a fresher, more relaxed Bunte now that she does not have to shoulder as much of the load and she has made her college decision.

“She gave us all she had last year, and I know she’s excited about her senior year,” Orne said. “She’s been a great vocal leader for us and making sure the little things are getting done.”

Bunte confirmed Orne’s inclination.

“I’m so excited,” Bunte said. “I just want to have fun, and I just want to enjoy this last season with my girls. It’s a game, and we’re obviously going to fail at times, but as long as we’re having fun and we have a strong relationship as a team, I’m happy.

“Coach Orne has built an amazing team and an amazing family within us all. We all work together, we push each other, and we work hard for each other. That’s the biggest part of it.”

Boyer has quickly assimilated into that family.

“She’s part of the family now,” Bunte said.