Softball: Hoffman hits in clutch to top Wheeling
Hoffman Estates softball coach Lindsey Hamma tells her players their goal is to win every inning.
The Hawks showed on Thursday they never stop trying to do that.
They produced their three biggest innings after two were out.
Host Hoffman put across 6 runs in the fourth inning, 3 in the fifth and 4 in the bottom of the sixth when they ended the game by the 10-run rule.
Southern Indiana-bound third baseman Mary Bean (2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) scooted home on a wild pitch to give the hosts a 15-5 win over Wheeling in the Mid-Suburban League crossover.
"Scoring all those runs with two outs was big in terms of not giving up and making sure we always stay focused and have that confidence in the batter's box," Hamma said.
The Hawks trailed 3-2 with Patricia Wadas on second base and two oust in the bottom of the fourth.
They proceeded to collect 6 of their 15 hits, including a triple by sophomore second baseman Brianna Venegas and a double by senior shortstop Giselle Velasquez.
They both fell one extra base short of the cycle.
Velasquez belted a 2-run homer in the Hawks' 3-run fifth inning and went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, a double and 2 runs.
"This was big to get a conference win early in the season," said Velasquez, a Barry University (Miami, Fla.) recruit. "I think it was just being determined and winning as team. We had the right mindset and played with our hearts."
Venegas was also 3-for-4 with a triple, double and 2 runs.
Another multiple hitter for the Hawks (2-4-1, 1-1) was senior Allura Magsino, who went 2-for-4 with a RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
In all, nine different Hawks hit safely, including Emily Grossi (double), Jenny Camilieri, Wadas, winning pitcher Ayanna Ward (8 strikeouts) and Kaelyn Kramp.
"Just give Hoffman credit," said Wheeling coach Mike Caringella. "They hit the heck out of the ball. They've got some really good players. We played well, but we struggled al little defensively."
Of the Wildcats' 6 hits, two were home runs.
For the second time of her career, Nicolette Ferraro led off a game with home run (hit the top of the center field fence). Wildcats senior Dakota Medrano connected on a towering blast off the center field field scoreboard in the top of the sixth.
LaCaesyse, Sophia Stanke and Karsyn Burgess also had hits for the Wildcats (0-3, 0-2).
"We had some girls who weren't feeling but they just gutted it out," Caringella added. "Our pitcher (sophomore Emily LaCaesyse who struck out eight) gutted it out all six innings. The girls played hard."
Hamma liked how her team played on defense after a 20-20 tie in eight innings against Addison Trail on Tuesday.
"I'm most proud that we cleaned up our defense (only 1 error) and had a much more fundamentally sound game with the routine plays," she said. "That's really what we stressed after our last game."