Herdman, Neuqua Valley blast Naperville Central

Neuqua Valley pitcher Zoe Herdman took the concept of helping her own cause to a new level on Wednesday.

Herdman scattered 9 hits in a complete-game effort and also drove in 5 runs, including a first-inning grand slam, to lead the host Wildcats past Naperville Central 9-3 in DuPage Valley Conference action.

It was the first home run of the season and first high school grand slam for Herdman, who was making her first pitching appearance of the season.

"It was great," Herdman said of her massive blast, which capped a 5-run inning. "The team had already scored one prior to it.

"I was just thinking it would be great to get some more so we could have some cushion when I pitched."

Naperville Central (3-6, 1-1) had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Grace Biondo doubled and scored on a single by Halle Arends, who later crossed home on a delayed steal just before Annie Tassi was thrown out on the bases to end the inning.

But the Wildcats (6-8, 2-0) came out swinging in their first turn.

Mikaela Domico reached on a leadoff error and that opened the floodgates. Gina Rivera, Danielle Olson and Paige Price followed with sharp singles off Redhawks hurler Stacy Stark to produce the first run.

Stark, who was chased in the second inning after giving up 7 runs on 6 hits, retired the next hitter on a liner to right, but Herdman connected on the first pitch and drove it over the left-field fence to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.

"Because it was our first time around, we kind of waited to see what was happening, but I saw the girls prior to me, they all got (first-pitch) strikes," Herdman said. "So I went up there swinging."

That's exactly what Neuqua Valley coach Christina Frontera wanted to see.

"Our team is very aggressive at the plate and I always tell them to jump on the first pitch," Frontera said.

Frontera was not surprised with Herdman's thunder. The junior belted 3 home runs last spring.

"She came out last year as a strong hitter," Frontera said. "She really came through with that home run and kind of brought the energy. That helped her self-esteem a little bit and offensively we had a strong game."

Indeed, the Wildcats added 3 runs in the second on a 2-run double by Abby Meeks and an RBI single from Herdman. They amassed 15 hits, with Rivera going 4-for-4 while Domico and Olson each had 2 hits.

The Redhawks got 2 hits each from Biondo, Arends and Annie Tassi but couldn't replicate the success of Tuesday's 17-10 win over Glenbard North.

"We can't give up 8 runs the first two innings and expect to win a lot of games," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. "This is game No. 9 and we've been scored on in the first inning 7 times.

"We've got to be tougher in that first inning because that changes the complexion of what you're trying to do."