Surico, Prospect connect against Libertyville
Prospect senior shortstop Nikki Surico plans to one day help students speak a foreign language.
On Monday, Surico’s bat spoke volumes in the Knights’ offense.
In back-to-back plate appearances, Surico belted a 3-run home run and 3-run triple, accounting for 6 RBI in Prospect’s season-opening 14-8 triumph over Libertyville at the Schaumburg Sports Complex.
It was the penultimate game of the five-day 2011 Illinois Bash Indoor Softball Spring Jamboree which concludes today at 5 p.m. when Elk Grove (0-1) faces Libertyville (1-1).
“We were getting antsy and really excited to start the season,” said Surico (2-for-4), who plans to play softball at Carthage College in Kenosha and study Spanish. “A lot of my teammates were doing a good job getting on base ahead of me, so I really wanted to bring them in.”
“Nikki hit the ton out of the ball,” said Prospect coach Jim Adair of his No. 2 hitter in the order who also made solid contact on her two fly outs. “We didn’t outhit them by much (13-11) but we were really making contact in key situations. I thought we could see good hitting and good execution from these girls and I was really happy to see that in our first game.”
Other key hitters for the Knights were senior designated player Nicole Naranjo (3-for-3, double, 2 RBI, walk), senior Sam Mangrum (2-for-4, double, RBI) and junior right fielder Amy Graham (2-for-3, 2 doubles, RBI).
Libertyville also produced some clutch hitting as junior pitcher Andie Grant (3-for-5) and senior first baseman Toni Kintzel (3-for-4, triple, double, 2 RBI) led the way.
“What a battle,” said Adair, who watched his team score 4 runs in the third, 8 in the fourth and 2 in the sixth. “Libertyville kept battling back,” Adair added. “ I have a lot of respect for them.”
Grant also pitched the first three innings.
“Andie did a great job,” said Libertyville coach Mary Tiegs. “Right now, our defense has to play a little better. That’s youth, though. And we were indoors, but you have to make those adjustments. It was the same for Prospect.”
Sophomore Haley Hoeksel (2-for-3, walk) added a triple and single with 2 RBI and Taylor Suydam had a double for the Wildcats.
“Offensively, I was really impressed,” Tiegs said. “Even though we were chasing, we came back and scored runs. We kept chipping away.
“The girls never stopped scoring. Now we’ve just got to keep the other team’s runs down.”
Naranjo’s one-out double to right center got the Knights rolling in the third inning. Graham followed with an RBI double down the left-field line.
Mary Styzek then reached on a fielder’s choice before Surico drilled her home run to left-center.
“I was pretty happy,” Adair said. “It means all the hard work we’ve been doing in practice paid off. The girls are believing.”
Southpaw Mangrum (1-0) threw the first 4 innings (3 strikeouts) for Prospect while junior right-hander Hannah Lythberg (triple) went the final three (4 strikeouts).
Junior second baseman Sarah Scaccia also tripled for the Knights, who are scheduled to host St. Viator today at 4:30 p.m.
Palatine 16, Wauconda 4 (5 innings): Senior Dani Boisvert (3-0) struck out four and walked two for host Palatine (3-0), which was led on offense by Katie Mnichowicz (2-for-3), Joanne Jablonski (2-for-4), Alexis Bauer (2-for-4, double), Katie Scovic (2-for-4) and Boisvert (2-for-3).