Huskies' Tunney catching on

After playing second base for the past two seasons on Hersey lower level softball teams, junior Kari Tunney has switched to the outfield for her first varsity season.

The southpaw got her first start in center field Wednesday against St. Viator.

She looked like she'd been playing the position forever.

In one of the key plays of the game, Tunney backpedaled to her left and made a nifty over- the-shoulder grab to take away an RBI and extra bases from Julie Sweeney (2-for-3) in the top of the third inning.

Tunney then fired the ball back to the infield and the Huskies ended up with an inning-ending double play when the baserunner failed to tag up before trying to score.

Hersey used the momentum to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning and went on to win its first game of the season, 9-3, on its own diamond.

"We needed this win," Tunney said. "It feels awesome."

Hersey coach Molly Freeman started Tunney in left field for the first 6 games.

"We had been talking about it (moving her to center) for a few weeks," Freeman said. "She's fast. She reads the ball well. She's an athlete. She also plays basketball and runs cross country.

"We just wanted to let her adjust for a while playing in the outfield. I never doubted she could play center. She looked like she'd been there for 100 years."

One scary moment came in the first inning when Hersey left fielder Julier Klawitter collided with an infielder while going for a fly ball.

Klawitter was taken to Northwest Community Hospital and was back before the seventh inning with three stitches and a black and blue eye, according to Freeman.

"That's the type of kid she is," Freeman said. "She couldn't wait to come back and see the end of our first win."

St. Viator assistant coach John Scotillo, filling in for head coach Dan Twarog (business trip), agreed that Tunney's catch made a big difference in the game.

"That kind of turned it around," he said. "She made a nice play on that ball."

The Huskies (1-6) took command with a 5-run fourth inning, which included a 2-run single by Kristy Johnson and an RBI single by Alyssa Kieffer. Aleene Morgenthaler, Stacey Schmiederer, Aubrey Fulton, Kieffer and Johnson all crossed the plate.

"In eight games (3-5), we've probably had two bad innings," Scotillo said. "This game and one against Prospect. Hersey is well-coached.

"When their center fielder made that play, that turned the momentum. But I liked how our kids never gave up. We just have to stay focused every inning."

Fulton notched the win for Hersey, throwing the first four innings, while Johnson went the final three innings, retiring the last seven batters in order.

"Kristy (Johnson) pitched great," Freeman said. "Her pitches were right on. I was proud of her."

Batting for the first time all season, Johnson went 2-for-3.

Buffalo Grove 2, Cary-Grove 1 (9): Sophomore Andrea DiPrima drove in the tying run with a double in the sixth inning and later scored the winning run in the ninth inning as the host Bison edged the Trojans in nonconference play.

In the ninth inning, DiPrima led off with a single and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Meg Miller. After Danni Shapiro was hit by a pitch, Emily Begnel was intentionally walked to load the bases, and a Shannon Soderholm pop fly fell in safely, allowing DiPrima to score.

DiPrima (4-1) allowed only a single in the fourth inning as she pitched all 9 innings for BG (7-1).

Fremd 3, Glenbrook North 1: Junior Lena Brottman's 16 strikeouts were her career high for a seven-inning game as the right-hander (4-0) tossed a 3-hitter to catcher Kristine Werling.

The Vikings (5-0) broke a scoreless tie in the sixth with 3 runs, aided by Jenny Schneider's 2-run single scoring Tess Dinterman and Casey Latal (2-for-3), who also had an RBI.

Elk Grove 16, Maine West 2 (5): Freshman Megan Keegan (3-run blast) and junior Stephanie Maday homered to lead an impressive hitting display for the visiting Grens (7-1), who picked up a nonconference victory in Des Plaines.

Amanda Mertes (2-for-3), Caitlin Garrison (2-for-4) and Dani Goranson (3-for-3) had multiple hits for Elk Grove, which had 4 doubles and a triple in the game.

Goranson (3-0) threw the first three innings for the win (8 strikeouts) while Maday went the final two (2 strikeouts).

Losing pitcher Emily Ott (6-2) had a homer for Maine West West (6-6).

Maine South 2, Conant 1: Sophomore Kailee Prasbrig (1-1) and freshman Brianna Cavin (2-2) combined for a solid pitching effort for Conant (4-3) in the nonconference game.

Freshman Kim Jacobson got Conant's first hit in the fifth and doubled home the Cougars' run in the seventh.

Lake Zurich 7, Prospect 1: Amanda Mlikan, Hanna Lythberg and Allison Travis each doubled for the Knights (1-6), who host Mundelein at 4:30 p.m. today.

New Trier 6, Barrington 2: Visiting Barrington (9-1) received a home run the seventh inning by sophomore Kiersten Tinkoff while senior Kim Cygan (9-1) struck out four in 32/3 innings. Sophomore Kiley Dolezal went he final 21/3 inning, striking out two.

Barrington hosts Elmwood Park at 4:30 p.m. today.

Mundelein 4, Palatine 3: Junior Chrissy Roto struck out four and walked two for the Pirates (2-4) in the nonconference home game.