Kestas, Redhawks shut out Naperville North

Naperville Central's Julie Kestas really, really wanted to win the rubber match of the cross-town softball series on Thursday.

You could tell by the way she pitched. You could also tell by her at-bats and by her fist pumps and cheers of encouragement for her Redhawks teammates. With Kestas and Naperville Central at the top of their game, the visitors knocked off host Naperville North 10-0 in six innings.

The Redhawks scored the only run they needed in the first inning, then exploded for 6 runs in the third inning to take a commanding lead. Kestas, meanwhile, allowed just three singles in six innings and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth to keep her shutout intact and give Naperville Central (16-7, 9-2) a key win in its goal of claiming the DVC title.

"I could definitely say thank you for that good start that we had on offense," said Kestas, who finished with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. "We came out hot and we knew we had to come out hot. We knew it was going to be a tough win and we needed to come out with 100 percent effort. I was so proud. I think it was a full team effort."

The Huskies (15-11, 7-4), who entered the contest with a chance to tie Naperville Central atop the league standings, had a nice come-from-behind win at Lake Park the previous day. But on Thursday they couldn't stay with the Redhawks, who have a two-game lead over Naperville North and four games to play.

"This was not the Naperville North team I know," Huskies coach Jerry Kedziora said. "It just seemed like when we walked on the field we weren't ready to play."

The Huskies coach, whose team had hit Kestas well in the teams' two earlier meetings this spring, sensed that the Naperville Central pitcher was amped up for a big game.

"We're a good hitting team, but you could tell she wanted it. She just wanted it," Kedziora said. "She wanted it more than our hitters."

The Redhawks' hitters, meanwhile, were productive throughout the order. Lead-off hitter Katie Lamich opened the game with a double and scored the game's first run when a deep flyball off the bat of Lisa Tassi was dropped. Lamich then delivered a two-out, 2-run single during Naperville Central's 6-run third inning.

"Bottom to top, the whole order is doing well," Lamich said. "Everyone's got each other's backs. I think we exceeded our expectations today. We played great. I'm happy with everyone."

Second baseman Lindsay Gonzalez also drove home two runs with a two-out hit in the third. The Redhawks had 5 hits and two walks while sending 10 batters to the plate in the inning. Kestas' walk led to a run in the third and she also doubled in the sixth.

That early outburst was more than enough for Kestas, who had allowed 8 runs in a loss to the Huskies early this season.

"This was such a much different game than the first time that we were here," Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum said. "Julie is so much better now."