N. Stars' Engel stays perfect in 6-4 win over Saints
Amanda Engel never has any trouble getting excited to pitch against St. Charles East.
This year, the excitement was greater than usual.
"It feels strange this year, it feels even better (to win) because they are doing so well," Engel said.
Something had to give when Engel put her perfect record on the line against the Saints, unbeaten in the Upstate Eight. Thanks to her team's 5-run rally in the fifth inning, it was Engel who stayed perfect, with the North Stars' 6-4 victory Tuesday tightening the UEC race.
St. Charles North (10-5, 6-2) capitalized on a rare bad defensive inning from the Saints (10-5, 6-1) to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 lead in the fifth.
The North Stars combined their 4 hits with 3 Saints errors to plate the 5 runs and push Engel's record to 6-0.
"They are a good-hitting team," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "They hit her more than usual. They were hitting some rockets off her left and right. But in the face of adversity she just kind of sticks her nose down, grinds her teeth and gets the job done better than others."
The North Stars struck first in the first against St. Charles East starter Gabby Moe, who pitched 41/3 innings before giving way to Katie Stengler. Sydney Russell walked and scored on her sister Taylor Russell's RBI double to the gap in right center.
That was the first of Taylor Russell's 3 hits.
"I just wanted to relax because usually when I get overanxious I get all wacky and I swing at bad pitches," Russell said. "I really wanted to be relaxed and swing at good pitches."
The Saints also turned a walk into a run in the second. RaeAnne Payleitner drew a walk, and after Jenny Niemiec's sacrifice bunt, pinch runner Claire Desrosiers scored on Steph Roan's RBI double over center fielder Ashley Seering's head.
The Saints took the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Rachael Edwards delivered an RBI single to score an unearned run in the fourth, then Payleitner's single scored Pam Sommer in the fifth.
Sydney Russell again started the North Stars rally in the fifth when she was hit by a pitch. Taylor Russell doubled her in.
After JuliaClare Plezbert reached on an error, Seering's single up the middle scored Taylor Russell to tie the game at 3. Plezbert scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error, Amanda Ciran's groundout brought in the fifth run, then the Saints' third error of the inning made it 6-3.
"We just didn't make the plays," St. Charles East coach Kelly Barnett said. "Definitely unusual but it happens."
The Saints got their final run on Rebecca Reinbold's RBI double in the seventh before Engel ended the game with a strikeout.
Taylor Russell (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and Natalie Capone (2-for-2) had multi-hit games for the North Stars while the Saints had six different players with 1 hit.
"She (Russell) gets up there and has a green light to do whatever she wants," Stary said. "She's just a smart batter. She sees whatever they are giving and goes with it. She's got her swing on, she's going to get a hit."
The Saints will try to get back on the winning track today against Larkin.
"It's one game," Barnett said. "It's not the end all. We'll be fine."