Redhawks let Wunderlich work

Naperville Central's recipe for a regional championship was simple, yet sweet:

Score early, and hand the ball to Natalie Wunderlich.

It worked in a first-round game against Plainfield North. The Redhawks did it again Saturday, scoring 2 runs in the first inning of a 3-0 win over Downers Grove North at the Class 4A West Aurora softball regional final.

"We've said it all year," said Redhawks senior Lizzy Ploen, who tripled in the first run, "if we can get more than 2 runs in a game, Natalie can shut 'em out."

Ploen scored the Redhawks' first run, and hit a 2-run homer against Plainfied North.

She continued her torrid hitting Saturday.

After Katie Bradley's one-out single, Ploen lashed a two-strike, run-scoring triple into the gap in right center. She scored on a Wunderlich groundout, making it 2-0.

Ploen walked in the fourth and bunted over Bradley in the sixth, leading to a run.

"She sees the end of the line (her high school career) coming," Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum said of his senior shortstop, a freshman on the school's last regional champion. "If she can put it off by one more game, she's going to do something about it."

Wunderlich (19-5) didn't strike out a batter after the game's leadoff hitter but was coolly efficient and in control.

She allowed just 3 hits, 5 baserunners total; Downers Grove North (15-15) put a runner on second with one out in the second and third innings but Wunderlich got out of trouble each time.

"I remembered in my head what certain hitters hit," said Wunderlich, who beat Downers Grove North in April. "I got them to hit my pitches. I went for outs."

She may have been at her best in the sixth. With a runner on second and two out, Wunderlich carefully worked Downers Grove North slugger Lauren McNulty, who came in with 8 homers.

Wunderlich walked McNulty on a close 3-2 pitch but then induced Kendall Ryndak to pop out to Ploen on a tough play behind the Naperville Central dugout.

"She was a pitcher today," Nussbaum said. "She basically told (McNulty) there, if you're going to beat me, it's going to be on my terms. That at bat is a reflection of how much more a thinking pitcher she is now."

The Redhawks (23-6) next get a rematch with No. 1 seed Plainfield Central, who beat them 1-0 in April.

"They're a tough team," Wunderlich said, "but we're smarter now. I hope we can go farther. I think we can."