Kirker sparks Jacobs to win
Katie Kirker may not know much about the ins and outs of varsity softball just yet.
But the Jacobs freshman sure does know how to pitch and hit.
Just recently called up to the Golden Eagles' varsity, Kirker won her fourth game without a loss Wednesday, tossing a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks, and she drove in the game's only runs with a 2-run double in the first inning, as defending Fox Valley Conference Valley Division champion Jacobs kept its conference title hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Crystal Lake South in Algonquin.
The Valley comes down to this: if Jacobs beats Dundee-Crown and McHenry beats Cary-Grove in today's games, the Golden Eagles will need to beat McHenry at McHenry on Saturday morning to salvage a tie for the title. McHenry leads Jacobs by 1 game after Wednesday's contests.
Kirker was smooth in the circle for the Golden Eagles (19-11, 9-4) from the first pitch to the last pitch, allowing South to get runners to third base only twice in the game. Her teammates backed her up with stellar defense and she used a variety of pitches to keep the Gators off balance.
"I just knew I had to do what I could do and I knew I had a good defense backing me up," said Kirker, who threw 67 strikes and 21 balls in an 89-pitch outing that lowered her ERA to 1.25. "I knew they were a good hitting team and I was kind of nervous before the game. I didn't really know what to expect."
If Kirker keeps pitching the way she has in her short time on the varsity this season, Golden Eagles fans are finding out what they can expect. In 28 innings, Kirker has 32 strikeouts and just 2 walks. Wednesday was her second straight shutout.
"Katie's doing a real nice job," said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. "Over the time she's been with us she's really shown us something. South is a phenomenal hitting team and I knew we'd be challenged defensively today. She controlled their offense and we made some plays."
South senior Emily Mahoney (14-7) pitched an equally impressive game. She allowed just 6 hits, struck out seven and walked three. But two of those walks came in the first inning and contributed to the only runs of the game.
Cassy Bencal drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, which was followed by Sara Jacobson's single. Kelsey Peterson reached on a fielder's choice and a walk to Marissa Lombardo loaded the bases. Kirker then stepped up and ripped Mahoney's first pitch, a head-high fastball, to the gap in right-center to score Jacobson and Peterson.
"(Bauer) told me if I got a first pitch I liked to go for it and that's what I got," Kirker said. "I just reacted."
Samantha Hardie, who reached on an error, advanced as far as third base in the top of the first, and Liz Adams singled and went to third on an outfield error in the seventh for the only threats the Gators (19-9, 7-6) could muster.
"We're playing not to lose instead of going out to kick somebody's butt," said South coach Scott Busam, whose team gets another crack at Jacobs in the semifinals of the Class 3A McHenry regional next Wednesday. "(Kirker) pitched well and that's the first time I've ever gone with Emily three days in a row. All things considered she did a nice job.
"We just took too many strikes. But we told the girls that if they win next Wednesday, yesterday and today and any other game we lost this season will be a distant memory."