South Elgin notches UEC Valley win over Glenbard East
The South Elgin softball team didn't beat Glenbard East Friday because of great hitting, defense or pitching.
While the Storm did get enough of those three elements, what they did best was take advantage of their opportunities, which Glenbard East did not. It added up to a 4-2 South Elgin win on a day when the four pitchers in the game combined for 14 walks.
Senior Taylor Ford and junior Cassidy Westlund and sophomore Alissa Hargett came up with the big hits for South Elgin (9-12, 7-6 Upstate Eight Valley), which only had 5 hits in the game, and junior Annamae Valdivia delivered 3⅔ innings of effective relief as the Storm snapped a 2-game losing streak.
"We had some timely hitting today and that's been a struggle for us," said South Elgin coach Stephanie Katzenberger. "It's all about confidence and staying mentally tough."
South Elgin spotted the visiting Rams (8-11, 4-4) a 1-0 lead in the first inning as freshman Tori Tyler drove in junior Kalley Lyons, who had walked, with a sacrifice fly.
The Storm tied the game in the second when Ford drove a double to the fence in left-center field to plate junior Stacy Bellack, who drew a walk after the Rams had pulled off a nifty 6-4-3 double play.
"It felt really good," said Ford, who according to Katzenberger was, "way due."
"I just tried clearing my head as much as possible," Ford said. "When I overthink I kill myself."
An RBI double from Westlund with one out in the third scored Hargett (2-for-4), who had just tripled to center, and put the Storm up 2-1, a lead they never relinquished.
South Elgin added 2 unearned runs in the fourth after they loaded the bases on 3 walks. Ford scored on a dropped throw and Bri Pena came home on a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, Glenbard East was leaving 12 runners on base. The Rams left the bases loaded twice, including in the top of the seventh.
Valdivia relieved sophomore Allison Kaiser with one out in the fourth and the bases loaded and was able to get two groundballs to get out of that jam. She allowed an unearned run in the fifth and runners in scoring position in each inning she pitched but got out of every jam.
In the seventh a single by junior Marissa West (3-for-4), an error and a single from senior Kelli Tyler loaded the bases for the Rams but Valdivia got a groundball for a force out at home and then sophomore Rose Koch's hard-hit line drive was snared by shortstop Amber Derr to end the game.
"I just know I have to get it done. I don't really think about it," Valdivia said. "I just block out the pressure. I felt good today."
Kaiser went 3⅓ innings to start the game, allowing 3 hits with 1 strikeout and 5 walks.
"Allison didn't have any innings this week and I wanted to get her some," said Katzenberger. "Annamae has been closing some games for us and has been doing a nice job. I prefer to have her in relief. She's got the composure. She looked a little fatigued but she took a lot of time between pitches and she was helping herself doing that."
Elissa Versetto, who had a double for the Rams, was the losing pitcher. She went 3-plus innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 walks. In relief, Tori Tyler gave up 1 hit and 4 walks.
"I tip my hat to South Elgin," said Glenbard East coach Nikki Simpson. "They capitalized on our mistakes. They had runners on base and took advantage. You can't leave (12) runners on base. We needed a timely hit and we just got groundball, groundball, groundball. South Elgin's pitchers kept us off balance. They had a good mix of dropballs and change-ups and kept us off balance."
Bartlett 3, Metea Valley 2: Lauren Janczak was 2-for-4 with a triple and had the game-winning hit to score Nina Pavell in the bottom of the seventh as the Hawks (14-6-1, 8-4) won in the UEC Valley. Sarah Schmitz was 2-for-3 and Danielle Kirby struck out 11 and allowed 6 hits in a complete-game win.