Softball: Geneva slams 6 home runs against Rosary
With the way Geneva's softball team is playing these days, it's difficult to imagine that the Vikings held a 2-2 record at one point this season.
Less than 24 hours after ending West Aurora's 31-game Upstate Eight Conference winning streak in a 2-0 showdown on Friday, the Vikings (23-2) showed no sign of a letdown during Saturday's 18-0, 5-inning nonconference victory over Rosary (16-7) in Aurora.
Geneva, which stretched its winning streak to 21 games, grabbed a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Katie Keller smacked the third pitch of the game over the left-field fence for a solo home run - the first of 6 long balls on the day for the Vikings.
After 2-out walks to Annika Radabaugh and Alyssa Kramer loaded the bases, Ali Dierks delivered a 2-run single to make it 3-0. The lead grew to 5-0 following a 2-base error on a line drive to right.
"It's very important," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said of jumping on top early. "On Thursday, I thought we got caught looking ahead to the West Aurora game. We were not very sharp against Streamwood (5-1 win).
"We were up 1-0 with two outs in the sixth inning. We talked yesterday about being careful not to let down today. I didn't want a repeat of that."
Keller led off the second inning with her second home run of the game - eighth of the season - before Kaitlyn Plocinski added an RBI single to make it 7-0.
The long ball parade continued during a 5-run third that featured Kramer's solo home run and a 3-run blast off the bat of Plocinski following a costly infield throwing error by the Royals.
"We made a throwing error to first that would've been our third out and what does the next batter do - she hits a three-run bomb," said Rosary coach Megan Tracy.
Freshman shortstop Sam Keller launched a solo home run in the fourth to make it 14-0 before Kramer's second home run of the game and eighth on the season - a 2-run shot - capped a 4-run fifth.
"I just hope I hit it," Kramer said when asked if she looks for a certain pitch in the batter's box. "I try to lay off the high ones and look middle-low."
Eight of the Vikings' 13 hits went for extra bases, fueled by Katie Keller (2 for 2, 2 walks, 4 runs scored), Kramer (2 for 2, walk, 4 RBI) and Plocinski (2 for 3, 4 RBI).
Reserves Sydney Erdmann (double), Anilise Bragg (RBI single) and Meghan Mraz (RBI) also contributed for the Vikings.
"I was very impressed with how we approached our at-bats," said Dierks. "We're in a good place all the way around."
Winning pitcher Ali Dierks allowed 3 hits and struck out 4.
"She's coming back from a little bit of an injury (hand) so it was a good day for Ali on the mound," said the coach.
"That wasn't a very well-played game on our part," said Tracy. "They're a good offensive team."