Softball: Ruggles Ks 18 as Dundee-Crown beats Streamwood
Everything was working for Dundee-Crown in the Charger softball team's season opener Thursday: pitching, defense and offense.
Senior Sydney Ruggles struck out 18 in a 2-hitter and Andrea Conway homered off the scoreboard as the Chargers downed Streamwood, 9-0, in nonconference action in Carpentersville.
Ruggles also drove in 2 runs. Her batterymate, catcher Claire Weeks, had 2 hits and scored twice.
"She's looking absolutely strong from the mound," said Charger coach Tracy Beatty of Ruggles, a Loyola recruit. "I think her and Claire, as a dynamic duo, they work really well together. She's always been a competitor, but she looks even stronger this year."
Ruggles agreed that she and Weeks were locked in.
"I feel like my speed was pretty good and my spins were really good, like my rise," said Ruggles. "My and my catcher, Claire, work really well together at moving it around, so it helps."
After Ruggles struck out the side looking in the first, the Chargers struck for 3 runs in the bottom half. Deanna Origer's double put 2 runners on. One scored on Weeks' single and Ruggles' hit brought in two more.
The Chargers broke the game open with 4 in the fourth, highlighted by Conway's shot off the scoreboard support in deep right field.
The Chargers' bats were lively for a season opener, producing 9 hits.
"Fortunately, we've been able to get outside a little bit and get some cuts out here on the dire, so that helps," Beatty said. "I was happy with everything. I thought we hit well throughout our lineup today."
D-C got RBI singles from Alaina Azar, Abby Arsenault and Melanie Bergman to keep the offense going.
The Sabres (1-1) got just a pair of doubles against Ruggles, one by pitcher Taylyr Crocilla and the other from catcher Becky Roncone.
"We lost the game on our at-bats, more so than defense and pitching," said Streamwood coach William Shogren. " (Crocilla) did miss some spots, but overall she didn't do terribly bad. We've got to hit to be able to score."