Bajusz sisters help Metea Valley top Naperville North
Naperville North softball coach Jerry Kedziora said he had been pleased with the way the Huskies were hitting going into Wednesday's home game against Metea Valley.
However, nothing cools a good hitting attack than a pitcher whose performance quickly fills a highlight DVD. Enter Metea freshman Rissa Bajusz, who threw a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out 13 as the Mustangs won 9-1.
"She threw great. She moved the ball around real nice," Kedziora said.
Metea Valley (4-4, 1-1 DuPage Valley Conference) also had a big day offensively as it racked up 13 hits. Rissa Bajusz's sister, senior Sydney Bajusz, finished with 4 RBI including a 2-run homer in the second. Four other Mustangs also had RBI.
Sydney Bajusz put her team on the scoreboard in the top half of the first inning. She was hit by a pitch and with two out Hailey Bacani's single to left brought her in. Sydney Bajusz's big hit came the next inning. Teammate Moira Danko reached on a fielding error and with two out, Bajusz was facing an 0-2 count. The next pitch was deposited over the fence between left and center fields.
"With the count 0-2, I was looking for anything. I liked the pitch," Bajusz said.
The Mustangs increased their advantage to 6-0 with 3 runs in the fourth. Sydney Bajusz added an RBI double as did teammate Megan Archey with Lisa Harrington's single also plating a run. Archey connected on an RBI infield hit the next inning and Sydney Bajusz's final RBI of the day on a groundout came in the 2-run fifth as well.
Metea's ninth and final run came in the seventh as Megan Hinkle connected on a run-scoring double.
Rissa Bajusz, meanwhile, had a no-hitter going into the fourth inning. She struck out the side in the second and did so in the second and again in the sixth.
The Huskies (1-5, 0-1) led off the sixth with Emma Johannes' double to left. Rissa Bajusz then walked the next three batters to load the bases and Johannes scored for Naperville North's lone run. But as a freshman, Rissa Bajusz learned a valuable lesson in getting out of a jam and struck out the next three hitters.
"She has been getting herself into situations with too many walks. But she did a nice job of getting out of the sixth. It's something she needs to learn," said Metea coach Kris Kalivas.
The Huskies' Maddie Vassar broke up the no-hitter in the fourth with a single to center.
"It felt real good pitching for the team and getting the win. We've won more games (since the start of the season) and it feels good to take one at a time," she said.
Kedziora said he's pleased at the progress that Naperville North has shown even though it might not reflect in the team's record.
"I loved how the girls battled late in the game. They're taking their cuts, making plays. We're a young team," he said.
Both teams are back in action Thursday. The Huskies are at Wheaton North and Metea hosts Naperville Central. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.
"There's youth in spots. We're still a young team. But they've done a great job in listening to what we say we want from them and making improvements," Kalivas said.