Softball: Fremd finds Friday Night Lights a hit

It's usually a once-in-a-lifetime chance for high school teams to play in professional venues.

Fremd's softball team took full advantage with its opportunity to take part in Friday Night Lights at the Chicago Bandits stadium in Rosemont.

The Vikings sure got their money's worth with a game that lasted 2:45, and the bonus was a 9-7 win over Crystal Lake Central.

"It's cool (playing under the lights in Rosemont)," said senior third baseman Holly Straup (1-for-2, 2 RBI), who hit one of the game's farthest balls with a triple to left center that rolled off the fence in the Vikings' 2-run fifth inning. "It's definitely a great experience."

Plenty of Vikings fans experienced the final regular-season game and a few ran through the stands with Fremd flags. The players even tossed T-shirts to their fans in the grandstand.

"It was awesome," Straup said. "It was exciting to see all our fans there."

They got to see the Vikings (24-4) club 14 hits, led by Abby Iuorio (3-for-5, 3 runs), Reagan Schneider (2-for-3, 2 walks), Kylie Hess (2-for-3, walk, RBI) and Lexi D'Ambrosio (2-for-3, double).

Sophomore Jess Mazur improved to 10-1, pitching the first 4 innings and the final 1⅔ innings. She allowed 2 runs and 4 hits.

The game was tied 7-7 heading into the top of the seventh when Fremd scored twice.

Iuorio led off with a single to center and stole second.

After Alyssa Garcia was robbed on an all-out diving catch by left fielder Jessica Cruz, Julia Wacker drew her second walk of the game.

A double steal gave the Vikings runners on second and Straup's grounder to short scored Iuorio.

Schneider then singled to center, driving home Wacker for the 9-7 lead.

Jess Mazur proceeded to wrap up her tenth win against only one loss.

She faced four batters in the bottom of the seventh (one walk).

The sophomore right-hander got two grounders back to the mound and her fifth strikeout to end the game.

"I just had to stay calm and focused," said Mazur who worked the first 4 innings and the final 1⅔ (2 runs and 4 hits). "It was fun."

Fremd led 5-0, collecting 3 runs in the third and 2 in the fourth.

The Vikes started the third with five straight hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Ann Marie O'Sullivan and Schneider. Hess then singled home the third run.

In the fourth, Garcia singled home Iuorio and Straup had a sacrifice fly to center to score Garcia for the 5-0 lead.

"Offensively, I was real pleased," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver, whose team improved to 24-4, completing a 4-0 week (wins over Barrington, Conant and Rolling Meadows) to end the regular season. "We put together good at-bats. We put a lot of pressure on their defense."

A lot of that pressure came from the speed of Iuorio and Garcia, who combined for 7 stolen bases.

The Tigers got 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth but Fremd answered with 2 in the top of the fifth when D'Ambrosio and Iuorio (RBI) led off with back-to-back singles. Iuorio scooted home on a wild pitch for the 7-2 lead.

Fremd defeated the Tigers 9-7 in Rosemont a year ago.

"It was almost the same score but if it was a win I'd feel a little better," said Crystal Lake Central coach Brian Strombom. "But Fremd is a terrific team and this is a great experience playing here. And it's a nice tune up for the state tournament (which begins Monday).

"I thought our kids fought hard and our bats improved as the game went along."