Softball: Shields breaks Huntley's stolen base record in win over Dundee-Crown

When Huntley senior Jessica Shields reaches base a stolen base is more than a possibility.

With Shields' first steal in Friday's Fox Valley Conference softball game against host Dundee-Crown she became the Red Raiders' all-time leader in stolen bases with 73. Shannon Walsh, who graduated in 2015, was the previous record holder with 72.

Shields, who stole two more bases in the game and currently has 75 career thefts, also collected 2 hits and was a key figure in the Red Raiders' 8-2 win over D-C in Carpentersville.

"It is an awesome feeling to break the record," said Shields, who is 26-of-26 in stolen bases in 9 games this season. "Assistant coach (Matt) Langton has really worked with me. He tells me to run straight to the base. "

Huntley head coach Mark Petryniec is impressed with Shields as a baserunner.

"I am very happy for Jessica," said Petryniec. "She has really worked on her baserunning and she has gotten better every season."

Huntley (5-4, 1-0) broke a scoreless tie aided by 2 D-C errors with 3 runs in the fourth. The key hit was an RBI single by Hayley O' Mara.

The Red Raiders added a run in the fifth. Shields a Wisconsin-Parkside signee, who drilled a one-out single, stole second and eventually scored on an infield out by Rylie Porretto.

D-C, which left 8 runners on base, scored twice in the sixth on a 2-run double by Deanna Origer to slice the Red Raiders' lead in half at 4-2.

Huntley seized control of the game with 4 runs in the seventh courtesy of a 2-run single from Taylor Pacana and run-scoring singles from Porretto and Sofia Tenuta.

Huntley, which collected 10 hits in the game, was led offensively by Shields (3 stolen bases), Autumn Kasal and Porretto (2 RBI) with 2 hits each.

Tiffany Giese, the winning pitcher, allowed 2 runs while scattering 7 hits. She struck out six D-C (5-7, 0-1) hitters while walking 2 with a hit by batter.

"This was a good bounce back win after a tough loss to Hononegah (Thursday) night," said Petryniec. "We had a good approach at the plate and we did a good job of executing our small ballgame. Tiffany pitched well.''

Andrea Conway paced D-C with 2 hits.

"We certainly had multiple opportunities to score," said D-C coach Tracy Beatty. "With the score 4-2 after six innings, we thought a win was obtainable. "