Tyrell's towering blast helps Antioch soar

Softballs scoot on the artificial turf inside The Dome.

The ball Antioch's Jessica Tyrell hit soared like a jet taking off from O'Hare Airport, which is just around the corner from the Rosemont facility.

The ball elevated until it splashed into the netting beyond the left-fence fence for a 2-run homer, and the Sequoits never stopped hitting en route to a 17-4 win over St. Viator on Friday morning.

"The umpire said it hit the red (marking on the wall beyond the fence) on the fly," Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said of Tyrell's blast. "He said it's got to be about a 240 (foot) shot. And it's hard (to hit homers) here because of the way the air circulates. Balls hang up."

With spectators' jaws dropped, Tyrell's ball dropped back onto the playing field.

"It felt great coming off the bat," Tyrell said. "When I was rounding second, I saw it bounce back in, but I didn't see where it hit."

Tyrell's homer capped a 4-run top of the first inning. Antioch led 7-4 after three and then erupted for 10 runs in the fourth, sending 14 batters to the plate. Tyrell (2-for-4) had an RBI double in the frame.

The home run for the senior catcher and four-year varsity player was her second of the seson. Her other long ball came last week against Prairie Ridge sophomore ace Hailey Baker, who's committed to Florida Gulf Coast University.

"This one felt better," Tyrell said. "I think this is the best home run I've ever hit."

The Sequoits, who improved to 2-1, finished with 17 hits and stole 9 bases in as many attempts.

Antioch senior shortstop Jessica Pedersen, who went 3-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run and 3 RBI, said she doesn't adjust her swing or take a different approach at the plate when playing on a fast surface. She also stole 3 bases and scored 3 runs.

"You just fly when you're running (the bases) so you take advantage of that," Pedersen said. "We're a quick team and utilize that (quickness) to our best advantage."

"It's a nice facility," coach John Scotillo, whose Lions fell to 0-3, said of The Dome. "The ball's a little faster here. The game's faster.

"On the other hand," he added, "you don't get any bad hops."

Antioch's long list of offensive contributors also included leadoff hitter Hannah Skoog (2-for-2, 2 walks, 3 stolen bases), Taylor Schiltz (2-run single, stolen base), Ashley Stephens (2-for-3, triple, 3 RBI), Jill Foote (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases), Annie Wagner (3-for-4, RBI) and Jill Everett (2-run double).

The Sequoits touched St. Viator lefty pitcher Krystal Harris for 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings. She played travel ball for Rocco.

"We were able to adjust on her," Rocco said. "She's a really good player for them."

St. Viator junior Meg Naughton drove in 2 runs with a single against winning pitcher Stephanie Bonaguidi. Junior Olivia Michalik boomed a 2-run triple for the Lions, who graduated six players, including five starters. Harris, who also bats left-handed and went 2-for-3 at the plate, is the team's only senior.

"We have some good hitters, and we have some speed," Scotillo said. "We just weren't in a position to use it today. We're a young team."