Fired-up Redhawks get bragging rights

Now Jori Gonzalez really has something to brag about to summer softball teammate Taylor Tooley.

Gonzalez's single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh scored kid sister Kelsey Gonzalez with the winning run in Naperville Central's 2-1 win over Plainfield Central on Wednesday in Naperville.

Gonzalez and Tooley play second base and shortstop, respectively, on the Rockers summer team. Both were on the field last spring when Naperville Central knocked off Plainfield Central in the sectional semifinals.

"We were texting each other today, talking about this game," Gonzalez said with a smile. "It's always more fun when you're playing people you know."

With one out in the seventh of a 1-1 game, Kelsey Gonzalez reached second when the Plainfield Central center fielder bobbled and dropped a ball hit in right-center. Gonzalez moved up on Maggie Buoy's groundout, and Jori Gonzalez lined a 2-1 pitch to center to score the game-winner.

"I just told myself to wait back on the pitch and drive through," Gonzalez said.

"It was one of the better games we've played defensively," Plainfield Central coach Anne Campbell said, "except for that one dropped ball. She tracked it down and made the play - she just couldn't squeeze it in her glove."

Jori Gonzalez earlier made a crucial defensive play to cut down Tooley on the bases.

With Plainfield Central (3-2) already leading 1-0, Tooley tripled to lead off the fourth. An out later Nancy Carrington grounded sharply to second. Gonzalez caught Tooley coming down the third-base line and threw to third baseman Erin Graham, who threw to catcher Megan Silke to apply the tag on Tooley.

"Jori made an outstanding defensive play - she's got a great understanding of the game," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. "Not only did she execute the play correctly, but she showed the kind of understanding of the game we want our players to have."

Gonzalez scored Naperville Central's first run, singling with out in the fifth and scoring on Stephanie Lynch's two-out double.

Natalie Wunderlich (3-0) allowed her first run of the season in the first on a Tooley two-out walk and Morgan Krisch double. She didn't budge much after that.

Wunderlich struck out 13, giving her 37 in three starts, and allowed just two baserunners after the first inning.

"She's the best pitcher we've faced so far this year," Campbell said. "She throws hard and really works the corners well. She doesn't lay anything out there for you to hit."

"I think they were fired up to play us," said Wunderlich, who struck out 11 in shutting out Plainfield Central in a sectional shutout last year, "but we were fired up to play them, too. This is a good win for us."