UEC River softball, baseball races tighten up

St. Charles North's softball team entered the week two games behind St. Charles East in the Upstate Eight Conference River Race, but things changed in a hurry in a good way for the North Stars.

It started with some help from Waubonsie Valley, who handed the Saints their first UEC loss Tuesday. St. Charles North took care of the rest, scoring three runs in the first inning and another in the second, then watching freshman Jillian Waslawski make the 4-0 lead hold up in a 4-3 win over the Saints on Wednesday.

"I didn't think four would be enough against their lineup," said North Stars coach Tom Poulin.

It was because of error-free defense and the pitching of Waslawski, who also beat Waubonsie Valley last week. She has a 4-2 record while making an immediate impact.

"She has earned our trust and gone out and performed well every opportunity we've given her," Poulin said. "We haven't put her in easy situations and every spot we've put her in she's come through."

The North Stars (13-3, 8-2) followed with an 11-4 nonconference win at Glenbard North on Thursday with Allison Hausl improving to 4-0 by striking out 6 and allowing 2 earned runs in 7 innings.

St. Charles North scored 8 runs in the first inning and never looked back. Maddy Mikos had 4 RBI, Abby Howlett was 2-for-3 and Waslawski's older sister, Kaitlyn, went 4-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.

The North Stars then beat Streamwood on Friday to take a half game lead in the River.

Jillian Waslawski said playing with Kaitlyn has made her freshman year easier.

"It's really something else to be playing on the same field as her," Jillian Waslawski said. "It's awesome. This whole senior-freshman aspect she's kind of showing me the ropes around the school and the team."

The Saints (14-3, 7-2), meanwhile, know there is plenty of time to rebound.

"We played bad for two games now," Saints coach Kelly Horan said. "The good thing is we can change that. We're a good hitting team, we can be defensively, we just weren't."

Right in the mix: Geneva is right behind the North Stars and Saints with 2 Upstate Eight losses and a tie game with West Aurora still to be completed.

Coach Greg Dierks knows next week will be a big one for the Vikings' chances with games against both the North Stars and Saints.

Geneva could have been in an even better position if not for late-game troubles in losses to Neuqua Valley, when the Vikings led 3-0 but lost 5-3, and Waubonsie Valley who broke free from a 1-1 tie with 5 sixth-inning runs.

"Offense has not been (where we would like)," Dierks said. "We've been struggling to score runs as much as we are capable of. Pitching and defense for the most part have been OK."

Blackhawks also hot: It would be tough to have a better week than the North Stars but West Aurora - who defeated St. Charles North earlier this season - could give them a run for their money.

Randy Hayslett's squad followed a 2-0, 10-inning win over Waubonsie Valley on Wednesday by clubbing 3 home runs in a 9-5 win over Bartlett on Thursday.

Senior Taylor Podschweit and sophomore Kallie Runde hit 3-run home runs and junior Jessica Vargas added a solo shot to build a 9-0 lead.

Hannah Beatus struck out 10 to earn the win for West Aurora (12-6-1, 6-2-1).

"She's always around the plate," Hayslett said. "We know she's going to stay around the plate. We know if we put up a couple runs with Hannah we're going to be in pretty good shape."

Podschweit also hit for the cycle in Thursday's win. Hayslett can't say enough about her play both at the plate and at shortstop.

"Taylor has been flawless," Hayslett said. "From coming in on soft hits or staying back in the hole, I think she's underrated. She has had the injury bug the last couple years. Nobody sees here. I don't think there's too many better hands than her. Her ability to make plays and stay calm all the way through is remarkable for us."

Up and down: That's how Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos described his team's first month of the season.

Batavia found its stride last weekend with wins over Burlington Central and West Aurora before a 5-3 loss to Oswego in the championship game of the sixth annual Fox Valley tournament.

"Up and down," Castellanos said. "We're finally getting girls back, we're getting our regular lineup in there, getting everyone back. Once we get our full lineup I think we'll be all right. For us it is a lot mental. If we come mentally ready to play every day I think we can be all right. Sometimes we come a little sluggish. If we come with a sense of urgency we can be really tough."

Castellanos has been using Rachel Lovestrand, Kaylan Waldron and Alena Theis in the circle, and Alyssa Klemm beat East Aurora this week.

"Each pitcher gives me something a little different," Castellanos said. "Kay is a lefty, she's got a nice fastball and change, mixes it up. Rachael has a screw ball, has a little more speed. Alena has a change and mixes it up. It's a good combination."

Baseball

Another good race: While the North Stars, Saints and Vikings softball teams all have 2 losses in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division race, the same schools are in a similar dogfight in baseball.

The Saints were 7-0 with a 2-game lead over the North Stars starting play Wednesday, but just like softball the standings changed in a hurry.

The North Stars can thank Geneva for that. While St. Charles North completed a sweep of Streamwood to improve to 7-2 in the Upstate Eight, the Vikings beat the Saints Wednesday and Thursday to drop St. Charles East into a tie with the North Stars at 7-2.

The teams play three times next week that should go a long way toward deciding the conference champion. The Saints need to quickly shake off the last two losses, including Thursday when they made 7 errors.

"We're going to come out and have a real positive practice Friday," Saints coach Len Asquini said. "Saturday Metea Valley will be a good restart. We're going to hit that restart button and start over. We're OK with losing as long as we learn something from this. The kids will come out Friday and work hard and correct some of those mistakes."

Geneva (8-6, 5-4) made a similar restart to its season after starting 1-4.

Since then the Vikings have won 7 of 9 including a 3-1 record against the two St. Charles schools - and in the only loss they led the Saints 1-0 in the fifth inning.

"After the loss (to go to 1-4) I challenged them," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "I think our seniors have stepped up. I think the little things have made a difference. Taking the extra base, being a little more patient at the plate. The little things are making the difference right now.

"They (St. Charles East) are the kind of team, if you want to win a regional, and it's been awhile since we've won a regional, that's the kind of team we are going to have to beat. I loved our demeanor all week."

Hahn used four different pitchers the final four innings to close out the 5-2 win Thursday. Each threw a scoreless inning, a strategy that also worked in a win over St. Charles North.

"I think it's been working well for us," Geneva shortstop Jack Wassel said. "It's keeping their team off balance. We do have a lot of guys who can pitch and pitch well and throw strikes. It helps us out a lot."