McHenry, Koepke blank Cary-Grove
No, Kristin Koepke didn't sell concessions between innings.
The McHenry senior excelled in the pitchers circle and provided enough offensive fireworks to lift the Warriors to a 6-0 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division softball win over Cary-Grove in McHenry Monday afternoon.
Koepke tossed a 3-hit shutout to earn the win and offensively she launched a 3-run homer to cap a 4-run third inning for the Warriors (17-4, 5-1).
Koepke, who will play at Division I Evansville next season, struck out 5 with 2 walks. The Warriors committed 1 error behind Koepke.
"My curveball was really working and moving," said Koepke. "I was able to change speeds effectively. The homer I hit well but I thought it was foul. This team is starting to come together."
Warriors coach John Di Francesca was impressed with Koepke's effort.
"Kristin was in a really good rhythm all day," said the McHenry coach. "She also had a big hit."
Sophie Migacz allowed a single without allowing a run in 1 inning of relief for the Warriors.
Cary-Grove pitcher Caitlyn Adams, who blanked the Warriors for the first 2 innings, allowed 4 runs in the third keyed by Koepke's homer and a run-scoring single from Dana Walsh.
McHenry added 2 insurance runs in the fifth on a 2-RBI double from Kentucky recruit Alex Martens.
McHenry leadoff hitter Carly Mattson was a perfect 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs scored.
"'I was really comfortable at the plate and had good swings," said Mattson. "For some reason I always hit well against Cary-Grove. We are starting to jell as a team."
The Trojans (6-13, 2-4), who left 6 runners on bases, squandered golden opportunities to score in the second and sixth.
In the second, Brianne Prank reached on a single and moved to second on a basehit by Caitlin Moran. Rachel Langner reached on an error to load the bases but leadoff hitter Molly MacDuff hit into a fielders choice to end the inning.
The Trojans put pressure on Koepke in the sixth.
Adams stroked a 1-out double and Grace Pilz coaxed a 2-out walk from Koepke. The inning ended when Prank popped out.
"We had a couple of good at-bats where we worked the count, but overall we were nonaggressive," said Cary-Grove coach Tammy Olson. "Caitlyn pitched well. Koepke and Martens got some big hits off her."