Softball: Lovestrand's 2B lifts Batavia past St. Charles East
Batavia senior Rachel Lovestrand will definitely remember her last home softball game.
Lovestrand smashed a double to the right field gap in the eighth inning, plating the tying and winning runs in the Bulldogs' 2-1 win over St. Charles East.
The 4-year varsity player also earned the Upstate Eight Conference River Division win after pitching 6 solid innings in relief.
East (26-7, 13-5) broke the scoreless deadlock in its half of the eight when Rylee Stout scored from second on Paige Ligocki's 2-out single up the middle.
Jessica Kliest started Batavia's rally with a leadoff bunt single, only the fourth hit yielded by Saints' starting pitcher Delaney Devor.
"It started off with that little bunt that found its way through. You need to get the leadoff hitter out," said Saints coach Jarrod Gutesha. "She put the ball where we weren't. That put them in a nice spot,"
Toni Galas moved Kliest to second with a sacrifice bunt. Jaelen Lisberg followed, drawing a walk.
"Getting the first batter on base was huge for us," said Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos. "Jay did a nice job battling for us, getting a full count and then getting a walk."
Next up was Lovestrand.
"This was my last home game, so I really wanted it. I was looking for a fastball inside - that's what she was pitching me earlier," Lovestrand said. "I watched the first pitch and the second pitch I fouled so I was like OK, wait back on the fastball. So I just stepped back and took that pitch."
"Rachel has been one of our top hitters all season long so there was no doubt I was going to let her swing away and she came through," said Castellanos.
Kaylan Waldron started in the circle for Batavia (20-11, 12-5) but was replaced by Lovestrand after the first two innings.
"It's late in the season so I'm trying to not tax our pitchers too much. I' m trying to give them a little bit of rest," Castellanos said about replacing Waldorn in the third inning. "I don't want to wear them out since we have the postseason coming up next week."
After yielding a leadoff single to Madelyn Candre, Lovestrand retired the next 14 batters in a row. With 2 outs in the seventh, Sarah Kreiner reached first on a walk and advanced to third on Sara Campagna's single. Lovestrand ended the threat by inducing Hannah Cozzi to ground out.
Devor also turned in a strong effort. Batavia put runners in scoring position in the first, second and fifth innings but the senior right-hander wiggled out of the jams. Devor struck out 9 and walked only 2 batters.
"Their two pitchers and Delany threw well. The wind was helping the pitchers get a little more velocity," Gutesha said. "Obviously from a hitting standpoint, it was killing things."