Softball: Giese, Huntley roll over Prairie Ridge

Anytime a pitcher gets as many hits in the batters box as she gives up from the circle, it's probably going to be a good day.

That's the kind of day it was for Tiffany Giese and the Huntley softball squad.

Giese allowed 2 hits, helped herself at the plate with a single and a double, and Grace Kutz and Paige Berkmeyer homered as the Red Raiders cruised past Prairie Ridge, 14-0 in Huntley Tuesday.

Berkmeyer went 3-for-3 and started 2 double plays on defense. Berkmeyer, shortstop Autumn Kasal and first baseman Taylor Pacana erased both of the Wolves' hits with the twin killings.

Sofia Tenuta also laced 3 of Huntley's 18 hits in the Fox Valley Conference affair.

"I said earlier in the year that we've been averaging 9 or 10 hits a game in the cold weather, and I said just imagine when it starts to heat up a little bit," said Huntley coach Mark Petryniec. "When you put together pitching, defense, and hitting, you're probably going to be more successful than not."

Huntley moved to 14-3 overall and 4-0 in the FVC.

Giese. a Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, struck out just 3 but was very efficient, facing just 2 batters above the minimum in 5 innings.

"I was just hitting my spots pretty well today," she said. "I have a weird little thing going lately where I hit a wall, but I got past it so it worked out."

Marley Reicher, Teagan O'Rilley, and Kutz each smacked 2 hits for Huntley. The Raiders appreciated the fast game with a busy upcoming schedule caused by earlier weather-related postponements.

"It's awesome. It definitely saves us, especially with the week we have where we're playing every day, and it's tough conference teams," Giese said. "It's nice to be able to get that break, and the offense does a great job, keeping going with the runs."

The Raiders started quickly with 3 in the first despite leaving the bases loaded. They broke it open with 6 more in the third, highlighted by Berkmeyer's 3-run blast to deep center field. Tenuta capped the scoring with a 2-run double.

Huntley closed it out with 5 in the fourth. Kutz's 2-run shot cleared the wall in almost the same spot as Berkmeyer's an inning earlier. Giese drove in 2 with a bloop to left field, and Quinn Walsh had an RBI single as well.