Softball: Prairie Ridge downs Hampshire
The frustration was evident.
Trailing Prairie Ridge 5-0 after two innings, Hampshire could never recover from the slow start in dropping an 8-3 Fox Valley Conference Fox Division softball game to the host Wolves in Crystal Lake Monday afternoon.
"We have been preaching all season that we have to come off the bus mentally prepared and focused to play," said Hampshire coach Kelly Wasilewski. "You can't spot a team as good as Prairie Ridge with as good a pitcher as (Hailey) Baker a 5-0 lead. We had much better at-bats the second time around. We swung the bats with more confidence later in the game. This team does have the biggest heart and never gives up."
Aided by 3 Whip-Pur errors, PR (9-1, 2-0) scored 5 runs on 8 hits to take a 5-0 advantage after two innings.
The key hit in the 2-run first inning was a 2-run homer from Kaitlin Levernez.
Winning pitcher Hailey Baker and Kylie Leverenz provided run-scoring singles and Kaileigh O' Brien lofted a sacrifice fly in the 3-run second.
"We have really hit the ball well early in the season," said Prairie Ridge coach Mike Buck. "So far everybody in the lineup one through nine is hitting the ball well. It was good to see us score early and get an early lead against a very good Hampshire team. I am happy with the way we have played during the first 10 games."
Hampshire (9-5, 3-1) dented the scoreboard in the top of the third with a run on an infield grounder by Aly Snider to make the score 5-1.
The Whip-Purs tallied 2 in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3. The key hit was an RBI triple from Morgan Haefling, who scored on an error.
PR seized control of the game with 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a 2-run single from Kylie Leverenz and a run-scoring double by Kaitlin Leverenz.
Baker, striking out 10 with 3 walks, allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in picking up the win for the Wolves.
Pounding out 13 hits and aided by 4 Whip-Pur errors, the Wolves' offensive attack was paced by Kylie Leverenz (3 RBI) and Maddie Schillinger (2 runs scored) with 3 hits each.
Kaitlin Leverenz, with a 2-run homer, and an RBI double, collected 2 hits with 3 RBI.
No. 9 hitter Renee Malecke paced the Whip-Purs' offense with 2 hits.