Softball: West Aurora's persistence rewarded against Batavia
A never-quit attitude came in handy for West Aurora's softball team Friday afternoon.
Trailing Batavia 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Blackhawks (9-2, 2-0) erupted for 5 runs to force extra innings and then plated the winning run in the 10th during their 7-6 Upstate Eight Conference victory over the Bulldogs (4-2, 1-1) in Aurora.
West Aurora began its improbable comeback with a Batavia infield error before junior left-handed pitcher Kaylan Waldron recorded a strikeout.
Following a full-count walk to Sophia Delgado, Hannah Beatus' single to center loaded the bases for Grace Hunger (2 for 4, walk, RBI), who also coaxed a full-count walk to knock in a run and close the gap to 6-2.
Kallie Rundle's infield single against Batavia reliever Alena Theis drove in Delgado to make it 6-3 before Payton Lundberg's slow-rolling groundout knocked in Beatus to make it 6-4.
The Blackhawks tied the game moments later when Sarah Hansen reached on an infield throwing error that allowed Hunger and Rundle to score.
West Aurora won the game in the 10th on Beatus' infield single with the bases loaded that drove in freshman catcher Gabriella Nilles (2 for 5), who led off the frame with a bunt single.
"I was proud of our kids coming back - they hung in there well," said Blackhawks coach Randy Hayslett. "It's the beauty about softball. You're never really out of it."
For the first 6½ innings, it appeared the Blackhawks were all but out of it.
Batavia, led by Waldron's solid pitching and an aggressive offensive approach against Blackhawks standout pitcher Beatus, controlled the game much of the afternoon.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first as Toni Galas (4 for 4, double) led off with a single, stole second and came across on a throwing error.
After West Aurora tied it on Hansen's RBI single in the second, the Bulldogs got the run back in the third on an RBI double by Rachael Lovestrand.
In the fifth, the Bulldogs put up a 4-spot highlighted by RBI singles by Lovestrand (2 for 5, 2 RBI) and Theis, and Bendoraitis' run-producing double to left-center.
"I was excited to play West Aurora because I knew they had great pitching," said Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos. "She's (Beatus) a great pitcher. You can't get down in the count against a pitcher like that. You have to be aggressive."
"They played a good game those first six innings," Hayslett said of the Bulldogs. "Hannah (Beatus) may have been missing some of her spots but no one has hit her like that since Oswego East did it last year. They hit some balls hard."
After scoring 6 runs on 10 hits in the first 5 innings, the Bulldogs were held scoreless on 3 hits the rest of the way against sophomore reliever Lundberg.
"Really we just brought Payton in to get some work and she ended up pitching five innings," said Hayslett. "They both pitched two full games."
"I didn't feel like I had my best speed tonight," said Lundberg, who fanned eight. "My spin pitches were really my go-to (pitches). That really helped me out a lot."
Theis suffered the tough-luck loss for Batavia.
"Our pitchers did a great job," said Castellanos. "We went 10 innings against a great team. For six innings, we played well but the game is never over until you get the last out. We've got to be able to close out that game."