Hampshire able to get past Grayslake Central
It's that time of the season to start playing cleaner, smarter games and Hampshire's softball team did just that on Thursday.
The Whip-Purs were able to use 2 unearned runs, a strong performance in the circle from senior Haley Widmayer and a tight enough defense to defeat Grayslake Central - and the rain - 2-1 in a Fox Valley Conference Fox Division game in Hampshire.
"This was a big confidence booster," said Widmayer, who scattered 6 hits and had 8 strikeouts with 1 walk. "We have to keep working out the flaws but we played a really clean game today, a good game overall. We need to build on it and keep it going."
Hampshire (11-15, 6-5) scored its first run in the second inning courtesy of an outfield error on Melissa Esparza's fly ball with one out. With two outs and Esparaza at second, No. 9 hitter Emily Williamson sliced a single down the right-field line to give the Whips the lead.
"Our hitting has been off and on and we've been trying to use the No. 9 spot as someone who can be another inning starter for us but Emily came trough there today," said Hampshire coach Stacey Stepek.
The Rams' defense let down again in the third. Hampshire's Ellie Lapi beat out an infield hit and then scampered all the way to third on Widmayer's sacrifice bunt. On the play, Grayslake Central overthrew third and Lapi scored to make it a 2-0 game.
"That's our season," lamented Rams' coach Jason Schaal. "Our pitcher (Reagen Radke), for a sophomore, she's going to be one of the best in the conference. But we need to improve on defense. You lose 2-1 and both runs are unearned ... makes it tough."
The Rams (14-17, 5-6) came back to make it 2-1 in the fourth. With two outs, Lindsay Brust doubled to right then scored on Melissa Ubis' bloop single to center.
But that was about all the offense Grayslake Central could muster against Widmayer, although the Rams did make it interesting in the top of the seventh as the rain started falling harder.
With two outs, No. 9 hitter Emma Eiserman, who had doubled earlier in the fifth but was left stranded at second, ripped a triple to the left-field corner. But Widmayer got Teagan Truskowski to hit a soft liner between third and shortstop that Hampshire's Aly Snider was able to catch for the third out.
"You can't ask for more than that from your No. 9 hitter, a double and a triple, and I'd put Teagan Truskowski in that position anytime. She's a great hitter," said Schaal.
"Snider got a good read and a good jump on it," Stepek added.
The loss overshadowed a stellar performance from Radke, who allowed Hampshire just 4 hits, all singles, while striking out 3, walking 1 and hitting a batter. Hampshire only hit five balls out of the infield but the Rams' defensive miscues came at the most inopportune times.