Girls softball: Giese, Huntley shut out Dundee-Crown
With winning the Fox Valley Conference a realistic goal, Huntley's quest for a FVC crown began on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Dundee-Crown in Huntley Tuesday afternoon.
Huntley's Tiffany Giese outdueled Dundee-Crown ace Sydney Ruggles in the pitchers circle.
In 7 innings of work, Giese handcuffed the Chargers (5-3, 0-1) on 2 hits both by Chargers leadoff hitter Hannah Gestritch.
The Red Raiders' hard-throwing right-hander struck out 7 Chargers with 3 walks.
D-C's biggest threat to score came in the sixth.
Gestritch led off the inning lacing a double to right center. The next Charger hitter Deanna Origer coaxed a walk off Giese to put runners on first and second with nobody out.
One out later. Giese induced Ruggles to hit into an inning-ending double play.
The Huntley defense didn't commit an error behind Giese.
"My defense was outstanding especially on that double play," said Giese. "D-C is a great team and Sydney is a great pitcher. My fastball and rise ball were really working well. This is a great way to start the conference season."
Giese worked a perfect seventh to earn the win for the Red Raiders (5-4, 1-0). She retired Andrea Conway, pinch-hitter Kayla Sjodin and Megan Thompson on infield groundouts to end the game.
The Red Raiders' only 2 runs came in the fifth. Teagan O'Riley led off the inning with a double and scored the only run the Raiders would need on a run-scoring double by Caitlin Brown. Brown later scored on an error.
"Sydney (Ruggles) is such a tough pitcher so I am just trying to make contact," said Brown. "You have to constantly adjust at the plate. I was glad to get a good pitch to hit and help my team win."
Huntley coach Mark Petryniec praised Giese and Brown's efforts.
"Tiffany was outstanding against a very good team with a very good pitcher," said the Huntley coach. "All her pitches were really working. We like Caitlin in the 8 hole. She is such a good contact hitter and she really came through. This was a great game. It was a fun one to watch."
Ruggles, who absorbed the loss, struck out 9 and walked 2 in 6 innings of work.
"Sydney always battles and pitched a great game," said D-C coach Tracy Beatty. "We had our opportunities but couldn't get the big hit. It is certainly a game of inches. Huntley is a solid team and with a solid pitcher (Giese)."