Mixed news for Buffalo Grove in win against Hersey

When the final pitch was made by Nikki Longdon in Monday's Mid-Suburban softball game at Hersey, there was good news and bad news for Buffalo Grove.

The good news was a 15-3 triumph in six innings.

The not-so-good news was that the girl who made most of the pitches for BG did not get the final out of the game after striking out nine and giving up 5 hits to that point.

All-area hurler Julia Camardo (8-2) took a hard shot off the top of her right ring finger but still managed to field the ball and throw to first baseman Longdon for the second out of the final inning.

With Camardo's injury, Longdon went to the pitcher's mound to retire the final batter on a popup to shortstop Dea Barton.

Camardo, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and sacrifice bunt, then headed for an X-Ray.

"There are two sides to a win like this," said BG coach Jamie Paul immediately after the Bison improved to 8-3 and 2-2 in the MSL East. "We came out and played a good game but we could potentially lose our pitcher for a few days. It's kind of bittersweet. But we'll see."

The potential of a quick return was enhanced a few hours later when Camardo received good news that there was no break or fracture in the finger. She was told it was just a badly jammed finger.

Paul saw her offense come to life with 12 runs in the final three innings, including 5 runs in the fifth and 7 in sixth.

"Offensively, we woke up," Paul said. "The hitting came around with some good shots on a windy day. We still have work to do defensively."

But Camardo kept the runs to a minimum with her 9 strikeouts and only 1 walk.

"She did a great job," said Bison sophomore right fielder Katie Fontanetta. "We are hoping for the best (with her finger)."

Fontana enjoyed one of her best offensive days, including a career high 3 RBI.

The No. 2 hitter in the Bison order went 3-for-5 and almost had a fourth hit if not for Hersey shortstop Katie Wingerter's nifty over-the-shoulder grab in shallow left field in the third inning.

Hersey (5-10, 0-4) started hitting in the first inning when Wingerter led off with a single and scored on a base hit to right by Cassie Zouras (2-for-3) with one out.

The Bison tied the game in the second when catcher Emily Carnes singled to center, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Camardo, and advanced the next two bases on wild pitches.

The Bison took the lead for good in the fourth when Carnes was hit by a pitch with one out and took second on Camardo's first hit.

Eventually two runs came home on wild pitches to make it 3-1.

BG's 5-run fifth started with a double to left center by Caitlin Catino and she came home on Fontanetta's single to right center.

Jasmine Avalos and Grace Gran each contributed 2-run doubles in the inning making it 8-1.

Hersey received RBI singles by Payton Anderskow and Zouras to make it 8-3 after five innings.

The Bison put it away with 7 runs in the sixth, which saw 2 -run singles by Fontanetta and Olivia Morini and RBI singles by Camardo and Longdon.

"Once we got going, we really never stopped," Fontanetta said. "We've got to keep hitting and not let up."

Kaitlyn Denten went the first 4⅓ innings and Kim Labahn went the final 1⅔ for Hersey.

The Huskies also had a hit from Jessica Schmiederer to lead of the second inning.

"We just gave them too many freebies," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "When you are playing a team that has routinely been at the top of the division (BG is the three-time defending MSL East champion), you've got to play clean softball.

"I thought we were where we wanted to be after last week. We have a good positive attitude and energy. We'll be back."