Softball: Downers Grove North defeats Glenbard South in battle of top-tier teams
Downers Grove North softball coach Eric Landschoot said he saw one thing after the Trojans defeated visiting Glenbard South 3-0 on Saturday - two quality teams.
"Any time you see two good teams finish a game in 1 hour and 10 minutes, that tells you they are up there hitting and putting the balls in play," he said. "Our defense did a phenomenal job."
That defense and starting pitcher Savannah Rodriguez were crucial to moving Downers North to 8-2 on the season overall. Rodriguez, a sophomore, threw a 1-hitter, striking out four and setting the Raiders (10-2) down in order five of the nonconference game's seven innings.
"I felt pretty tight when I started pitching, but I got loose. My catcher (Raemon Meents) helped me with my confidence. The defense did a nice job," Rodriguez said.
Only three Glenbard South outs made were flyballs. One of those catches, in the third inning, was a one-handed running catch almost to the fence by right fielder Jade Mejia Wick on a hard-hit ball by the Raiders' Ashley Cohen. Third baseman Cecilia Miglio stopped two hard-hit line drives for outs.
The Trojans struck first in their half of the first inning. With one out Katie Polaski singled to left and scored when the next batter, Jaclyn Pasakarnis, doubled to right. Then with two outs Kayelee Newstrom brought Pasakarnis home on a single to center.
Downers North finished with those three hits that inning and racked up just three hits over the next four innings and one more in its final turn at-bat.
Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda wanted to throw off the Trojans' batting order by rotating pitchers. Daniella Little started the game and threw the first two innings. Cohen came on in the third and fourth and Little came back to finish the final two. Cohen finished with 2 strikeouts, Little 1.
The defensive highlight of the day for the Raiders came in the fifth when Cohen made a diving catch to save a line drive for the inning's second out.
Downers North's final run came in the sixth. A 2-base fielding error put Rodriguez on base. She was moved to third on Newstrom's sacrifice bunt and scored on another fielding error. Landschoot was pleased with how the Trojans bunted during the contest. Bunts moved runners over in two other innings.
Glenbard South's lone hit came in the second. With one out Bailee Flanagan walked, and with two outs, Little beat out a groundball for an infield hit. The Raiders' only other runner came in the third when senior Payton Carli reached on a 2-base error.
Fonda was not surprised that her team was less sharp for the morning game.
"We played at (University of Illinois at Chicago) last night and didn't get home until around 11:30. It was a tough turnaround. We were obviously a step slower," she said. The Raiders fell to Marengo 10-5 Friday.
Both teams return to conference action on Monday. Downers North is at York in West Suburban Silver play and Glenbard South travels to Metro Suburban opponent Chicago Christian. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.