Softball: Neuqua Valley powers past Naperville Central
Neuqua Valley softball coach Christina Frontera saw signs of it during Monday's win over Metea Valley. On Wednesday at Naperville Central, there was no question about it, the Wildcats hitters had found their swing.
Neuqua belted out 21 hits to beat the Redhawks 13-3 and move to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the DuPage Valley Conference.
"We had been mediocre offensively going into the Metea game and the bats started to come around. We had played only two games prior to Metea," Frontera said.
Naperville Central (4-4, 1-1) led 2-0 when the Wildcats racked up 5 runs in their half of the third on 5 hits. The big hit that gave Neuqua the lead for good came from Zoe Herdman, who slammed a 3-run homer. Danielle Ernst led off the inning with a walk followed by Danielle Olson's single to center, and they scored on Herdman's shot.
It was Herdman's second homer of the season.
"The key is having confidence and going up there and hit. Having the team behind you really helps," she said. "Today was a lot of fun with the team doing a great job."
The inning wasn't over as Lauren Notestine next doubled to right. Marissa Potter then reached on an infield hit bunt. A fielding error scored Notestine and Potter scored on Alex Ebert's sacrifice bunt.
The Redhawks scored their final run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third, and then it was all Neuqua the rest of the way. The Wildcats scored in every inning, including 4 runs in the seventh.
Potter's single brought home the run in the fourth, and two Naperville Central fielding errors in the fifth scored Ernest and Olson. Olson's infield hit in the sixth scored Ebert, who had walked.
RBI singles from Gabrielle Dufresne, Julia Rainer and Julia Huebner provided the offense in the seventh.
"With hitting the focus up there is the individual. But we stress teamwork on the bench and emphasize communication and focus," Frontera said. "At-bats bring confidence and at-bats come from how many games you've played."
Neuqua got strong pitching with starter Kaley Grossman going the first three innings and Rainer the final four. Grossman struck out three, Rainer four.
Naperville Central scored twice in the first. Leadoff hitter Lindsay Gonzalez hit a short single to center and later was safe on a throw to the plate that put Staci Stark on base. Stark's fielder's choice moved Abbey Place to third after she had singled to left. Place scored on Annie Tassi's single to left.
In the third Place singled and scored on Meredith Siambekos' basehit.
"We hit the ball reasonably well, but they hit great. And when they tattoo the ball, it makes it difficult to win," said Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum. "We need to get better pitching, we need to get better offensively. But hats off to Neuqua, give them all the credit."
Naperville Central plays host to Metea Valley on Thursday, while Neuqua travels to Reed-Custer in Braidwood.