Victory over Marengo brings back good memories to Glenbard South
Julie Fonda has fond memories of Glenbard South’s last meeting with Marengo prior to Friday.
It came last June, Fonda’s Raiders beating the Indians 2-1 in the Class 3A title game.
“Today was another happy moment,” Fonda said. “I’ll take this one as well.”
Fonda is no doubt feeling good about her No. 7 Raiders, who took care of Marengo 6-1 on a frigid Friday evening at The Ballpark in Rosemont.
Regular-season matchups with Marengo, particularly at this venue, seem to be agreeable to Glenbard South.
A year ago, on a similarly chilly evening, the Raiders rolled to a 10-3 victory in Rosemont. The bats remained hot Friday, Glenbard South batting around in a 5-run third inning to open a commanding 6-0 lead.
“I know (Marengo coach) Dwain (Nance) has some pitchers that are dealing with some injuries right now,” Fonda said. “We did a good job of putting pressure on them early.”
The Raiders got a run on the board in the second, Danielle Scarpiniti coming home on a high throw to first on Gianna Marra’s two-out squeeze bunt.
Carpiniti’s single scored Payton Carli in the third, Jane Trzaska scored on a passed ball and freshman Ashley Cohen lined a 2-run single to center. Another run scored on a Marengo (19-7) error in the outfield.
Nance is well aware that Glenbard South feasts on other team’s miscues like few other teams.
“Our defense let us down,” Nance said, “and you can’t give them anything.”
Nance’s No. 1 pitcher, Bethany Hart, is dealing with back spams but came back in to start the fourth inning and retired the last 12 Raiders.
Too late against Raiders pitchers Trzaska and Stephanie Chitkowski, up to the task of protecting the lead.
Trzaska threw the first three innings, striking out two while allowing a hit and a walk. Chitkowski (10-1) pitched a perfect fourth and fifth, then surrendered just 1 run while working out of bases-loaded jams in the sixth and seventh. She got nice help from Hannah Taylor, who made eight putouts in playing a stellar third base.
“It was a little nerve-racking coming in because Jane did such a great job,” Chitkowski said. “We beat them twice last year, so we knew we had a big target on our back.”
Don’t look now, but Glenbard South is 20-3 despite graduating seven seniors off last year’s state championship team.
Some rebuilding year, huh?
Even Chitkowski has been caught off guard a little.
“I’m surprised,” she said. “Coming from last year, losing seven seniors, I knew we would still be good, but not as good as we are right now.”