Softball: McCreedy's blast lifts West Aurora over St. Charles East

Locked in a 0-0 game in the top of the seventh Wednesday at St. Charles East, West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett considered giving senior Corey McCreedy the bunt sign.

It's a good thing for the Blackhawks he didn't.

McCreedy launched a rocket well over the left-field fence for both the only run of the game and West Aurora's only hit of the game. Blackhawks ace Hannah Beatus outdueled Saints ace Jordan Hall 1-0 in a matchup of unbeaten Upstate Eight Conference teams.

No. 7 West Aurora (6-0, 3-0) was able to stay that way, thanks in large part to Beatus who struck out 10, walked 1 and allowed just 2 bunt singles.

"This was a huge game, an awesome team effort," said the Grand Valley State-bound junior. "We were making contact, we weren't handing them any outs. We were just really feeling it. As a pitcher you couldn't ask for more."

McCreedy supplied the only offense Beatus needed with her first home run of the season on an inside fastball from Hall.

"It hit the handle of the bat, but I'll take it, right?" said McCreedy who made her college choice - to play softball at Aurora University - earlier in the day. "I knew coming in it was going to be a tough game. Good pitching, good fielding."

No. 2 St. Charles East (7-1, 1-1) was especially sharp in the field. Catcher Rylee Stout threw out would-be base stealers in the first and sixth innings.

The Saints turned two highlight-reel double plays to end the fourth and fifth innings. The first one was started by shortstop Kelly Rinker who snared a hard-hit ball up the middle, stepped on second base and threw to first. Second baseman Jordan Hieber got the next one going with another fine scoop going to her right, then she flipped the ball from her glove to Rinker who touched second and fired to first.

"We made the plays we needed to make to have the game where it was come the seventh inning," Saints coach Jarod Gutesha said. "They had the one big hit. I'll take the way we played defense. When we are playing defense like that, that's very encouraging."

Hall struck out 2 and walked 3 while only facing 2 over the minimum 21 batters. Beatus drilled one of the better hit balls by either team, a blast to deep left that Madelyn Candre caught while running into the fence.

"Even though we didn't have a hit until Corey's home run, I thought we had good at-bats," Hayslett said. "We were anticipating 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 tops. We just wanted to score first because if we do we were going to win behind Hannah. It took awhile."

Beatus said her rise ball was her most effective pitch.

"She knows these players," Hayslett said. "She hit her spots. They are an aggressive team and that can lead to Hannah's advantage because she gets ahead in the count and makes you hit her pitch."

Katie Kolb and Sarah Kreiner had the Saints' only 2 hits of the game, and both times they advanced into scoring position only to be stranded there when Beatus ended the threats with a strikeout.

"I just wish it was the other way," said Gutesha, whose team outlasted West Aurora 2-1 last year in 12 innings. "You have to tip your cap."