Softball: York's Wojcik shuts down Glenbard South

By now everyone in the area knows that Glenbard South's successful softball program is known for creating havoc on the basepaths.

But visiting York had the perfect solution in Saturday's nonconference game in Glen Ellyn - just keep the Raiders off the bases. York junior pitcher Lauren Wojcik used a great changeup and a tricky curveball to blank Glenbard South 10-0 in six innings. Wojcik struck out 9, walked none and allowed just a third-inning single to Kate Mora.

"We had good defense and no errors so they weren't able to get on base and do their thing," said Wojcik, who looked awfully comfortable in the circle despite pitching to a new catcher. "That was a key to the game. I felt relaxed and I felt like I was really in control of the game."

With starting catcher Madison Collins absent Saturday while taking the SAT, Mia Tran got the call behind the plate and the Dukes didn't miss a beat. Tran guided Wojcik to one of her best games ever and also jump-started the York attack with an RBI double that scored Kyra Kroll with the first run of the game in the top of the first.

Tran added another RBI double in a 2-run third as the Dukes took a 4-0 lead on Raiders starter Daniella Little (11-6). Kroll and Izzy Smith also doubled in the inning.

"Everyone hit very well today," said Tran, the team's regular second baseman. "We were able to hold them, and Lauren didn't give them any walks. She got ahead in the count and she was great."

With Wojcik in command throughout, the Dukes were well on their way to improving to 14-8 on the year even before a 6-run outburst in the sixth prevented the contest from going seven innings.

"They all came together as a team for sure. We got a lot of hits at the times when we needed them and the baserunners were executing too," Dukes coach Elizabeth Munn said. "We're fortunate this year we have quite a bit of speed. And Lauren did an excellent job today. She was right on with her pitches. From last year as a sophomore on varsity to now we talked about hitting your spots and staying confident in there."

Glenbard South has dropped three straight ballgames, but Saturday was the first time the offense was totally shut down. In Friday's 11-8 loss to IC College Prep, Bailee Flanagan went 3-for-4 and Mady Carli was 2-for-3. On Thursday Carli was 3-for-3 and Elizabeth Cizek had a home run and 4 RBI.

But Wojcik and her defenders never allowed the Raiders to get going at all Saturday.

"It was just one of those days," Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda said after her team dropped to 11-11 on the spring. "Kate had a single and stole second base, and that was our highlight."