Extra Effort: Pontiac’s Elena Krause a standout athlete, multi-talented student

PONTIAC, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — She’s a big-time high school softball player now but Elena Krause remembers when she first started playing softball.

She wasn’t crazy about it.

“For a while I didn’t like it but now I love it because of my teammates and coaches,” Krause said. “I remember playing when I was eight. My grandpa had shed where he would teach people to pitch. I learned to throw underhand and overhand there.”

Now she’s one of the top high school players in the state as a pitcher, hitter, and shortstop. But there’s more to Krause than just softball.

She loves to sing and is a part of Pontiac High School’s jazz choir and Madrigals. She’s had a role in school musicals and is a member of FCA and the math team.

She has a 4.0 grade point average and is a National Honor Society member. Krause says she’s somewhat of a nerd.

“I’m a little bit of a nerd, I like school,” she said with a smile. “I like studying and doing that stuff outside of school.”

Her coaches think she’s great on and off the softball diamond.

“She’s all-around a great individual. You never knew if she’s having a bad day because there’s always a smile on her face,” said Pontiac softball coach Nicole Hayner. “She works hard in school, works hard outside of school and for our program. She’s a role model not only to our players but our community as well.”

She’s committed to play softball at Stanford where her sister Reagan plays. But college is still over a year away so she’s content on trying to be the best student-athlete she can be for Pontiac.

“It’s never boring, that’s for sure,” Krause aid of her daily routine. “Going from singing in the morning to school to softball practice after school. It’s a lot of fun.”

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