Batavia softball splits with Huntley

Batavia softball coach Leon Pedraza has stressed all year that the key to his team improving will be how well they play defense.

The defense was fine Saturday morning in the first game of a doubleheader against Huntley until the wheels started to come off at the worst possible time.

Playing a crisp game and clinging to a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning, the Bulldogs promptly booted the first two balls to put runners at first and second with no outs.

But Batavia caught its breath and regrouped in a hurry, making three clean defensive plays to strand the two runners and win 2-1.

"We stumbled a little bit but I told the girls we're human, we're going to make occasional mistakes," Pedraza said. "But what is really important is that you faced the adversity and you fought through it and your teammates picked you up. That's what a team is about. It's not on one player to win or lose a ballgame. It's a team."

Huntley earned a split, scoring 4 runs in the first inning of their 6-2 win in Game 2. Batavia's record remains at .500 at 7-7.

"Huntley is very good ballclub, well coached, good players," Pedraza said. "It was gratifying to come out on top in the first game."

In the opener, Huntley grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second. Batavia scored both of its runs in the third. Mackenzie Astling and Alexa Schofield singled, then freshman Katie Coleman brought them in with a double to right.

"I just focused and hit the ball," Coleman said. "I saw the gap and just hit it. We're working together real well."

After going 3-for-3 Thursday against Geneva, Schofield had another good game with 2 hits.

"She's starting to come around," Pedraza said. "She's getting more comfortable at the plate. You struggle a little and you get in a little rut and you aren't relaxed up there. Now she is seeing the ball and being aggressive at the plate and going after it."

Brooke Nelson improved to 6-4.

In the second game, Coleman batted 2-for-3 and scored twice.

St. Charles East 7-0, Wheaton North 2-2: Rae Ann Payleitner homered for the Saints in Game 1 and Gaby Moe picked up the win on the mound.

Wheaton Academy 8-16, Aurora Christian 6-4: The Warriors opened their PSL season in style, sweeping the Eagles (0-10, 0-2) in West Chicago.

But it was the Eagles who started strong when Shannah Morris hit a three-run homer in the first inning. They led 6-4 in the sixth when the Warriors countered with four runs. Alison Koch singled home two runs and Paige Huizenga hit her second double of the game. Huizenga also picked up the win, allowing three earned runs and five hits over seven innings. She also won the second game for her fourth win of the year.

Warrior leadoff hitter Bitsy Weaver batted 4-for-4, extending her hitting streak to ten straight appearances. For the Eagles, Morris hit her second homer of the day in Game 2 and Steph Perik batted 6-for-6 for the day with five runs scored.