Kaneland stays in hunt for WSC championship
Kaneland has taken an unlikely path to the brink of a Western Sun Conference championship, which is now just a win away after Thursday's 1-0 victory at Batavia.
The Knights returned all-conference pitcher Mallory Huml, which figured to give them a great shot at the top spot in the league. Instead, freshman Delani Vest has emerged as Kaneland's workhorse, and she was at the top of her game again on the Bulldogs' senior day.
Vest fired a 2-hit shutout, using great command and her off-speed pitches to keep Batavia from hitting many balls hard. She finished with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. The Bulldogs only had one runner reach second base.
The win gives Kaneland (24-7, 10-3) a chance to share the Western Sun title if the Knights can beat league-leader and defending champion Glenbard South today in Glen Ellyn.
"Mallory was all-conference last year and had a great record, I don't think we ever thought she (Vest) would step in and be the No. 1," Kaneland assistant coach Ken Neahring said. "But she has been so consistent.
"Delani pitched a great game. She was in control almost the whole time."
Katie Coleman had a first-inning single and Kelly Coleman a third-inning single and that was it for Batavia's offense. Vest retired the final 13 hitters she faced.
She's now 16-4 this year and lowered an ERA that has been under 1.00 all year.
"I was confident because I know my team is behind me, especially the seventh inning when things are tight," Vest said. "They make every play no matter what."
Vest's transition to varsity has been a little easier with her sister Rilee catching many of her starts, including Thursday.
Delani said one advantage with Rilee catching her is that her sister has a great feel for what pitches are working. Rilee agree, and said several pitches have been on lately.
"Most likely it's her curve but we've been throwing junk, we've been throwing risers and drops and that's been really working for her because her drop is an off-speed pitch," Rilee Vest said.
Senior Sara Rose supplied all the offense Kaneland needed with a home run to left in the first inning. In an earlier 9-0 win against Batavia, Kaneland blasted three home runs.
Batavia (15-15, 9-5) would settle for an extra-base hit as its offense turned cold again, just like a 3-0 loss Monday at Glenbard South. Brooke Nelson nearly matched Vest, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out seven.
"We shouldn't have to ask our pitcher to make no mistakes," Batavia coach Leon Pedraza said. "She makes one little mistake in the first inning and that shouldn't be the ballgame. Brooke has done an outstanding job all season."
Kaneland looked like it would add a few insurance runs in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. But Nelson worked out of it, getting a fly ball, then shortstop Alexa Schofield gunned down a runner at the plate before Nelson ended the inning with a comebacker.
"Our offense has got to learn to back up our pitcher, back up our defense." Pedraza said. "That was outstanding defense."