When she walked into Lincoln-Way Central for the first time, Lisabella Dimitrijevic had some high hopes. Her goal was to make an impact on the softball program.

But seriously. To rewrite the record book? To be a two-time Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year?

The Florida State recruit was much too shy to expect that.

“I didn’t think I’d get to the point where I am today,” Dimitrijevic said. “I wanted to be there, obviously, but I never thought I’d come this far. It just kind of happened.”

Dimitrijevic, the 2025 Daily Southtown Softball Player of the Year, will leave the Knights’ program as their all-time pitching leader in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, least amount of runs allowed and innings pitched.

Lincoln-Way Central coach Jeff Tarala said there are more obscure, advanced stats where she’s also ranked No. 1.

What a ride.

“I’m just so happy I got to experience all of this with my teammates and my coaches,” Dimitrijevic said. “They have really been there for me throughout my whole experience at Lincoln-Way Central the past four years.”

This season, Dimitrijevic posted a 23-1 record and a 0.46 ERA. The senior right-hander had an eye-catching 349 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings. At the plate, she batted .318 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs.

In addition to the Gatorade and Daily Southtown honors, she also was all-state and the SouthWest Suburban Conference’s player of the year.

Tarala didn’t have a problem ranking her with the best to wear the uniform for the Knights.

“I think she is the best player ever at Lincoln-Way Central,” Tarala said. “You know, Lyndsey Grein is up there, obviously. And there is Laura Severson as well. There have been other great ones.

“But Lisabella has set just about every single record. And I can go on and on and on about what she has achieved. It’s so impressive that when you’re in it … I don’t think until we step out of it will we truly appreciate or understand just how great she was.”Dimitrijevic spent her freshman season watching and learning from Grein, who went on to pitch for two seasons at Virginia Tech and then won 30 games this season at Oregon.

From her sophomore through senior seasons, Dimitrijevic was 68-8 in the circle for the Knights.

“She did it with a quiet confidence and a quiet determination,” Tarala said. “Bella was like a silent force on that mound. She was hyperfocused — she had goals in mind. And the goal was to dominate the pitch, to dominate the hitter, to dominate the inning and to dominate the game.

“But at the same time — and it sounds contradictory — although she was super focused and concentrated, she also had things in perspective. It’s high school softball. She wanted to enjoy herself and have fun with her friends.”

In her own mind, the area that Dimitrijevic has grown the most goes back to being a shy freshman.

“I was never really a huge leader when I was little in travel ball,” Dimitrijevic said. “Even freshman year, Lyndsey pretty much did it all for me as far as being a leader.

“My sophomore year, we didn’t have any seniors. So as the main pitcher, I felt like I had a big responsibility to step up and fill that leadership role. Obviously, it has gotten a lot better.”

Junior infielder Ellie McLaughlin discovered the “Bella effect” early on.

“My freshman year, when I didn’t have to pick up many ground balls in the field, that’s when I realized,” McLaughlin said, laughing. “It has been just incredible watching her.

“She is so talented and so determined. Bella has been a leader in every aspect. She wants the best for everyone, and you can see it on the field and off the field.

“It was just an honor being on the field with such a competitive person.”

Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown