Softball: Ross pitches Glenbard East past Addison Trail
It has not been an easy softball season for Glenbard East, but it all came together Thursday night under the lights at Addison Trail.
Senior pitcher DoniBrooke Ross allowed just four hits and struck out four as the Rams prevailed over the Blazers 7-3 in a nonconference game.
"DoniBrooke pitched the best game she has so far. She's normally a shortstop, third baseman, but she has been carrying the load these past three weeks because we have three pitchers injured," said Glenbard East assistant coach Don Finnie.
Ross had a no-hitter through four innings and a ball didn't reach the outfield until the fifth inning.
The Rams (2-15) scored immediately in their half of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Kailey Lyons walked, stole second and reached third on Marissa West's single to left. Kate Tadda then walked, bringing Ross to the plate. Ross hit a groundball and a throw was made to the plate, but Lyons was safe and Ross was on with a fielder's choice.
The Rams broke the game open with six runs on six hits over the fourth and fifth innings. With one out in the fourth inning, Alivia Chuman doubled to left. Jillian Strom singled and Sam Dooley walked. A wild pitch scored Chuman. Lyons' single to right cleared the bases and scored Strom and Dooley.
Lyons scored on Joselyn Molinar's basehit for the final run of the inning.
In the fifth Tadda and Chuman connected on singles and scored on wild pitches.
Addison Trail (6-11) got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Marie Baumgartner reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Gianna Sarli's RBI groundout.
In the seventh the Blazers scored two more runs. Leadoff hitter Sophia Hawkins walked and scored on a 3-base error that put Alyssa McMahon on third. Nicolette Scorza's double to center scored McMahon for Addison Trail's third and final run.
"The kids hit the ball well. They've been working on it this week," Finnie said. "With all the adversity that they've gone through this year, this team has stuck together. They played well defensively tonight. We shut them down defensively with some nice plays in the infield."
"(Ross) held us in check last season. (The Rams) are a solid team," said Addison Trail coach Mark Olson. "I like how we responded in the sixth and seventh. We battled back, but it's not good to give up those early runs."
It was senior day at Addison Trail and it began with an afternoon makeup game against Proviso East. The Blazers beat the Pirates 18-3 in five innings to improve to 2-4 in the West Suburban Gold.
"Our four seniors - Faith Czorniak, Alyssa McMahon, Nicolette Napoli and Julia Liace - really contributed well in the first game and they've been great leaders all the season," Olson said.
Baumgartner was the winning pitcher.