Surging Schaumburg does it again
It's still early in the softball season, but Schaumburg has already learned how to win games regardless of the predicament it's facing.
“They've jokingly call themselves the 'comeback kids,' ” said Saxons coach Ellen Stoddard.
And they proved that again Tuesday at Rolling Meadows, where they were the home team because Schamburg's field was unplayable due to the recent weather.
Trailing 5-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Saxons scored 3 runs to take the lead.
Schaumburg senior pitcher Hannah Kerr (4-0) then struck out two while facing four batters in a scoreless seventh to seal the 6-5 comeback win.
It was the Saxons' ninth win in 10 games and they are 3-0 in the Mid-Suburban West. It is their best start in Stoddard's three seasons directing the program.
“We were just thinking we've done this before so we know we can do it again,” said Saxons senior center fielder Dana Giannelli of her team's sixth-inning rally in which she beat out a throw for a key infield single. “This good start really amps us up and brings our team together.”
Meadows shortstop Sam Anderson was a major reason her team was enjoying the 5-3 lead.
The power-hitting senior went 3-for-3 with 2 home runs, a walk and 3 RBI.
Anderson belted a solo blast to right-center to lead off the game and then a 2-run homer to the same spot in the top of the fourth to make it 5-2.
Schaumburg got one run back in the bottom of the fifth on sophomore Shannon Felde's RBI infield single which scored Kerr with no outs.
After a walk to Carly Brossard (2-for-3), Mustangs senior ace Sara Brunlieb escaped a bases-loaded jam.
Second baseman Chloe Prodanovic caught freshman Paige Alt's sharp liner and threw to first baseman Lane Winkler to double up the runner.
Brunlieb (4-5) got the third out on a grounder to Anderson, who earlier in the game made a nifty backhand stab in the hole to take a hit away from freshman catcher Christina Candotti.
The Saxons began their 3-run rally in sixth with a leadoff single to left by Roxanne Kakareka.
After a perfect sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kelly Poplar, Candotti delivered her first varsity hit to shallow center driving in Kakareka.
Kerr then reached on a fielder's choice before Giannelli kept the inning alive by beating out the throw on her grounder to short with two outs .
“All I was thinking was how good her (Anderson's) arm was and I had to get to first,” Giannelli said. “We just try to come back by chipping away and doing the little things.”
Kerr scored on a wild pitch and then shortstop Felde completed a 3-for-3 plate performance (1 walk, 2 RBI) with the game-winning RBI to center field.
Kerr got 2 strikeouts and a groundout to third baseman Brossard to completed her 7-hitter with 7 strikeouts.
“The one thing about Hannah is that she will battle,” Stoddard said. “She gives it her all and we have the defense behind her to pick her up.”
Anderson picked up the Mustangs' offense with her big day that saw her pad her school record of career home runs to 14. She has three this season.
The University of Tampa recruit is dedicating each one this spring to her grandfather Carl, who is currently in St. Petersburg, Fla. and recovering in a hospital from health issues.
“I am definitely the most confident I've been and it's obviously because I'm doing it for my grandfather,” Anderson said. “I am just trying to have the best season I can because he is my No. 1 fan.”
Other top hitters for Meadows were Winkler (2-for-4, RBI) and Prodanovic (1-for-3, walk), who was robbed of a second hit by a nifty shoestring catch by Giannelli in the sixth inning.
“Give Schaumburg credit,” said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski, whose team is 6-5 and 0-3 in the MSL East with the losses coming to MSL West teams with a combined 27 wins and 3 losses. “They made the plays to win the game. We didn't make enough to win.”