Kaneland powers past Batavia with 2 HRs

Sara Rose narrowly missed a home run for Kaneland when her fourth-inning drive landed some six feet foul down the left-field line.

Andrea Potts and Rilee Vest more than compensated for the Knights' softball team against Batavia on Tuesday afternoon in Maple Park.

Potts lined a 3-run shot over the left-field fence one batter after the Rose near-miss, and Rilee Vest supplied the coup de grace in the Knights' 9-0 whitewashing.

The sophomore, with the bases loaded, capped a 5-run sixth inning with an almost identical drive over the fence in left to secure an easy victory for her younger sister Delani.

"It was my first one ever (in varsity competition)," Rilee Vest said of her grand slam that scored Rose, Potts and Brianna Hurst in front of her. "I thought I hit it right to (Batavia left fielder) Katie (Coleman). I was very surprised when I saw my teammates up at the plate (to celebrate the home run)."

In dropping the Bulldogs to 10-8 overall, Kaneland (14-5) created a logjam with Batavia in Western Sun Conference game at the mid-mark of the league schedule. Both teams are 5-2. Glenbard South and Geneva are just behind at 4-2 and 4-3, respectively.

In what was expected to be a pitching showdown between Delani Vest and Batavia ace Brooke Nelson, Kaneland second-place hitter Jess Lubic set the tone of the Knights' productive day with a first-inning triple. The sophomore scored one batter later on a groundout, and neither team could muster much offense over the next two and a half innings.

But the momentum shifted permanently in favor of Kaneland in its half of the fourth. Nelson retired seven straight batters, but back-to-back walks brought Potts to the plate with the Knights nursing a 1-0 lead. Potts' first career home run made the task for Delani Vest all that much easier.

"I was just looking for a base hit," Potts said. "I knew it went far. I was just hoping to hit the ball solid."

With 4 runs at her disposal, Delani Vest was firmly in command of her game. The freshman right-hander improved to 9-2 on the season, deftly changing speeds while allowing 3 harmless singles. Vest wisely pitched to her defense, and the Knights' defense snared several lined shots off Batavia bats.

Rilee Vest then suspended any last-minute Batavia comeback hopes with the fifth-inning grand slam.

"Two swings and 7 runs," Kaneland coach Dennis Hanson said. "The pitcher made a mistake, and we hit it far."

Emily Dorjath led Batavia going 2 for 3.

"(Nelson) is the last person I'm going to fault," Batavia coach Leon Pedraza said. "She has carried us this far. We're in great shape for the conference."