Wrap: Rockets take 13 to beat DeKalb; Storm edges Warriors
Top-ranked softball squad Burlington Central was pushed to the limit by DeKalb and junior pitcher Lisa Oller, but Kayla Oranger scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning Monday to lift BC (24-1) to a 1-0 win on Senior Day, the Rockets' 15th straight win.
Senior Erica Maisto, who pitched the first four innings then came back in the ninth, picked up the win, her 13th of the season without a loss and the 73rd of her career. She pitched 9 innings, allowing 4 hits, striking out six and walking none. Junior Mackenzie Scott pitched the middle four innings, striking out nine with no walks. She gave up just 1 hit.
In the bottom of the 13th, Oranger (3-for-6) reached base with one out when DeKalb's second baseman rushed a throw on Oranger's grounder and threw the ball away, allowing Oranger to get to third base on the play. She then scored on a wild pitch with Ashley Scheffler at the plate. Oller had 16 strikeouts and allowed 6 hits for the Barbs (14-9). Maisto had 2 hits for the Rockets.
South Elgin 5, Waubonsie Valley 1: South Elgin trailed 1-0 until the fourth inning, when Kimberly Pierce (2-for-3) and Lauren Vitiello (1-for-3) hit back to back home runs. The Storm (17-9, 8-8) scored 3 more runs in the fifth to pad their lead and push past Waubonsie Valley for an Upstate Eight Conference victory. Cary Thereon earned the win, pitching 4 innings with 2 strikeouts and no walks. Rebecca French finished the job, pitching the final 3 innings with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
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."