Softball: Birkholz bats and pitches Saxons to win
Schaumburg senior pitcher Michelle Birkholz plans to study psychology at Wisconsin-Parkside, where she will also play softball with classmate Kaiden Jackson.
"I've always been interested in the subject," she said. "I'd like to be a school counselor. I like helping others."
She sure helps out her Saxons softball team - with her bat and her arm.
Birkholz earned the win and went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI as Schaumburg topped host Hersey 11-5 in a Mid-Suburban League softball crossover in Arlington Heights on Thursday.
The Saxons extended their longest winning streak of the season to five games and they reached .500 for the first time (9-9) while improving to 7-4 in the Mid-Suburban West.
Hersey is 15-6 and 6-5, tied with Elk Grove (17-6, 6-5) for first place in the MSL East.
Birkholz' 2-run, two-out single in the top of the fourth inning gave the Saxons a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning after Hersey had gone ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the third on Jackie Bednar's double that drove home Jodie Hermann.
Cleanup hitter Cate Poplar followed Birkholz' game-winning RBI with an RBI double that made it 6-4 before an infield single by Michaela Encarnacion (2-for-4) made it 7-4.
"I feel like we are coming together and playing as a team," said Birkholz, who did not allow a hit in the final 4 innings and struck out four in a game that started on Monday before being postponed by rain in the bottom of the second inning with Schaumburg leading 4-1. "And it helps me build a trust with my teammates."
Catcher Janalee Lyke (2-for-2), Jackson (2-for-5) and Poplar (2-for-4) were also multiple hitters for Schaumburg.
"The season is going better now," said Jackson, who plans to study special education in Whitewater. "We've got things down on defense more now."
Right fielder Alex Cook made a diving catch to rob Remy Gerew in the seventh inning and Jackson also took away potential extra bases from Gerew with a hustling catch in center field in the fifth inning.
Offensively the Saxons had hits this from eight different players, including Natalie Napier, Brittney Butt, Talia Torosian (3-run home on Monday) and Summer Schulz.
"We've had some good games lately," said Saxons coach Ellen Abreu about the five-game winning streak. "We're seeing the ball at the plate and we're making good plays defensively. We are starting to play more as a team as the season goes on."
Hannah Graff and Bednar each went 2-for-3 for Hersey while Makayla Tsagalis and pitcher Brianna Luciano also had 1 hit apiece.
"We were just a little sloppy on defense and gave them a few runs," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "Schaumburg was disciplined and collected runs when they needed to."