Zdroik perfect as St. Edward wins 3
Things are coming together for the St. Edward softball team and with the postseason right around the corner, the timing couldn't be better.
The Green Wave made it wins in 8 of their last 10 games Saturday when they racked up a triple-header win, beating Indian Creek 10-0 an 4-1 in a nonconference twin bill, then defeating Aurora Christian 19-0 in a rescheduled Suburban Christian Conference game on Senior Day at Judson University.
Green Wave sophomore Lindsay Zdroik fired a five-inning perfect game against Aurora Christian, striking out 9. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and 2 RBI.
"It felt great to have a perfect game and have my defense making the outs they needed to to get me to achieve it," Zdroik said. "I feel like we're in really good shape since our offense and defense have been working really well."
Zdroik, now 11-7 on the season, tossed a 2-hitter in the 10-0 win over Indian Creek with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
"She had great command all day and she's been getting better and better at that all year," said St. Edward coach Jaci Corn, whose team is now 15-9 on the season. "Her strikeout ability has made us a stronger team."
The Wave, which scored 7 runs in the second inning of the first game, also got doubles from Ryann Scully (2-for-4) and Allison Stratman (RBI) as well as RBI hits from Rachel Lesh, Megan Strong and Zdroik.
In the second game, the Green Wave made a 3-run first inning stand up for freshman pitcher Emily Stapay (4-2), who allowed just 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and a walk.
Senior Jasmine Deleon led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a triple and 2 runs scored. Shannon McShane was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Kaitlin Freeman and Jackie Boydston each drove in a run.
St. Edward then mowed down Aurora Christian to move to 7-5 in the SCC, where the Wave could still finish third in the ultra-tough Blue Division, the side that includes powerful Montini and St. Francis. St. Edward has a game to complete with St. Francis on Thursday and enters that contest with a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Stapay (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI), Lesh (2-for-2, 2 RBI), senior Kelly Theriault (2-for-2, RBI), Deleon (2-for-4, RBI) and Freeman (RBI) led the Wave's 12-hit attack in the win over Aurora Christian.
The day left Corn optimistic that a team with just two seniors is finally rounding into shape.
"We are more disciplined at the plate and we're making plays on defense," she said. "We're getting lead runners, we're making fewer errors and the outfield is doing a good job of hitting cutoffs.
"It's still a work in progress and we're still a young team but this team is bonding more, acting more like a family and playing more like a varsity softball team."
The coach then reflected on the contributions of her two seniors, Deleon and Theriault.
"It's been enjoyable watching them develop over the last four years," Corn said. "They are both good leaders who lead both vocally and by example on the field. They have really blossomed this year."
St. Edward has a busy final week of the regular season, taking on IC Catholic Monday, Wheaton Academy Tuesday, IMSA Wednesday, St. Francis Thursday, Guerin Prep Friday and a doubleheader at Judson with Regina Dominican next Saturday before playing the host school in the semifinals of the Class 3A Nazareth regional on May 28.