Lake Park 3, Neuqua Valley 1
In softball, there is nothing like the bunt to get a defense on its heels.
Lake Park flips the script on that strategy.
The Lancers, as aggressive in the field as on the bases, made two critical plays on Neuqua Valley bunts that turned the tide in a 3-1 Lake Park win on Monday in Roselle.
Tied 1-1, Neuqua Valley's first two batters walked to lead off the top of the fifth. With a bunt pending, Lake Park's infielders crept toward home plate. Second baseman Samantha Becker pounced on the bunt, and wheeled to third to nail the lead runner.
"Becker made a great play," Lake Park coach Cray Allen said. "If we don't get an out there who knows what happens?"
Lancers pitcher Missy Mazur did it one better on the next play. She dove to the dirt to catch a pop bunt in front of home plate, and doubled off a runner at second.
"I always wanted to dive for a ball," Mazur smiled. "We try to take away the bunt as much as possible."
Neuqua Valley left three more runners on base in the sixth. The Wildcats missed on five sacrifice bunts.
"We had all kinds of opportunities," Wildcats coach Michelle Schmidt said, "we just couldn't move them over and get them in."
Neuqua Valley, riding a six-game winning streak, struck first in the fourth. Jenna Marsalli belted the first pitch from Mazur over the left-field fence for her 10th home run of the season.
Lake Park answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on 2 walks and a throwing error in the infield.
After the two stellar defensive plays in the top of the fifth, the Lancers grabbed the lead for good. Jamie Pomahac hit a solid single to right and scored on Lynsey Ciezki's double to left that was fumbled in the outfield.
The Lancers (20-4, 14-2 Upstate Eight Conference) scored an insurance run in the sixth as Carly Willert walked, stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch.
"We try to get runners on base and take advantage of everything we get," Mazur said.
Mazur (15-4) struck out 10 for Lake Park, who beat Neuqua Valley 9-4 in April in a game that bore little resemblance to Monday's. Colleen Hohman struck out eight for Neuqua Valley.
"Neuqua is going to be good," Allen said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they made noise in regionals."
The Wildcats (16-11, 12-6) play a potential regional opponent on Thursday, hosting Downers Grove South.
"We've made huge strides," Schmidt said, "but we have to continue to execute. They can't be satisfied with where they're at."
Softball
Fenton 3, Maine West 2: Sasha Molina's bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the sixth gave the Bison a win over state-ranked Maine West in Bensenville. Amber Schwarzinger (16-9) worked past a hit in the seventh for Fenton (19-10), three wins shy of a new school record.
Naperville Central 5, Glenbard East 0: Natalie Wunderlich (15-5) struck out 12 and Lizzy Ploen went 3-for-4 and scored 2 runs for the Redhawks (17-6, 9-4 DuPage Valley Conference), who remained a game behind West Chicago in the DVC race with a game to go.
Naperville North 3, West Aurora 0: Layne Engel (8-5) struck out three in shutting out the host Blackhawks.
Wheaton Warrenville South 1, Wheaton North 0: Virginia McAndrews (10-6) struck out 10 in a one-hit shutout for the Tigers (16-11, 8-5 DVC).
Hinsdale South 4, Willowbrook 0: Kelly Payne homered and Lindsey Hinni struck out 10 for the Hornets.
Volleyball
St. Francis d. Providence 16-25, 29-27, 25-15: Jeff Dixon had 11 kills, Joey Murnane 8 and Bob Vonderhaar 5 for the Spartans, who knocked off the No. 1-ranked Celtics in Wheaton.