W. Chicago's Connolly good as advertised

Mary Connolly and West Chicago won't be sneaking up on anybody this spring - and that doesn't seem to faze them.

Connolly struck out 12 in a 2-0 win over St. Charles East in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday in West Chicago. St. Charles East took the second game 5-3.

Connolly, who went 23-7 with a 0.66 ERA and 295 strikeouts as a freshman in leading the Wildcats to conference and regional championships, struck out 17 in West Chicago's season opener last weekend.

"We lost two key players from last year," Connolly said, "but the girls have come ready to play and (first-year) coach Emily (Johnson) is doing a great job. With the team we have here I'm really excited."

Connolly, primarily a two-pitch pitcher last spring, has worked to add to her repertoire. She allowed just 3 singles against St. Charles East.

"I've gained a couple of different pitches, picking up some more moving pitches like my riseball and curveball," Connolly said. "I'm trying to mix other pitches in with my fastball and changeup, try to get some movement on the ball and mix up the hitters a little bit."

St. Charles East starter Katie Stengler worked out of two-on jams in the first and second innings but couldn't escape damage in the third.

Connolly hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line to lead off the inning and went to third on an infield single by Kaity Olson. Izzy Bruce then hit a chopper to third that was bobbled, allowing Connolly to come home.

West Chicago (2-1) tacked on a run in the fifth, Ali Taddeucci dropping a single into short left field to score Connolly. But the Wildcats left 10 runners on base, 7 in scoring position.

"That's definitely something that we have to fix," Johnson said. "I'm still playing with the lineup. Maybe that wasn't the best lineup to get runners in with."

In the second game St. Charles East (2-1) broke up a 2-2 tie with a 3-run fourth.

Beth Carrignan, who went 2-for-3 for the Saints, had a go-ahead single and Jenny Niemiec later added a 2-run double. Gaby Moe (2-0) got the win.

"We made some nice adjustments going into Game 2," St. Charles East coach Kelly Barnett said. "The first game we were pressing too hard. The second game we relaxed, went back to basics and put the ball in play."