Hurd, Warren have total grasp of new rule

No wonder that added length from the pitching rubber to home plate hasn't taken any zip off Kayla Hurd's riseball.

If the grip of her handshake is any indication, her right hand might be strong enough to dent an aluminum bat.

"I've been taught well," Hurd said with a smile. "My father told me a strong handshake shows confidence."

The Warren senior exuded confidence in the circle Tuesday, firing a 2-hitter to lift the Blue Devils to a 6-0 win over Hersey in the teams' season opener at Barrington's Fields of Dreams.

Barrington's Spring Fling continues today with Warren facing Barrington and Hersey playing Maine West.

Hurd struck out 10 and walked three.

"She's worked really hard," Warren coach Carri Nichols said. "She has confidence this year and she's worked up her experience."

Hurd is a captain along with fellow four-year varsity starters Sarah Clauser and Alex Booker, each of whom also had strong season debuts. Clauser, a shortstop who has verbally committed to Aurora University, went 3-for-4. Her fifth-inning solo homer was the first of her high school career.

"It felt good," said Clauser, who also doubled. "I've been working on my hitting where I work (Bat Speed in Gurnee), and it's been helping out, and I've been working with an instructor (Jason Acevedo). It paid off today."

The Illinois-bound Booker had a single and threw a strike to home plate from center field to cut down a runner in the sixth.

Warren junior third baseman Paige Dombrowski, whose 2-run double started the scoring off Hersey righty Kristy Johnson in the second, also shined in the field.

"They were stellar," Hurd said of her fielders. "I was so proud of them. They saved my butt a couple of times."

Hurd, who's committed to Grand Valley State University, had a no-hitter through five innings. Kari Tunney led off the Hersey sixth with an opposite-field single to left, and after Aubrey Fulton lined out to second baseman Lindsay Horwitz, Kim Ferraro singled.

Hurd eventually ended the game with a called-third strike.

So much for the new 43-foot distance from rubber to home affecting her. Her heavy riseball baffled the Huskies most of the game.

"She was good," Hersey coach Molly Freeman said. "She kept our hitters off balanced, for sure. We were kind of a sucker for the high one starting off. But we kept talking about making adjustments."

Hersey junior catcher Danielle Becker threw out two runners trying to steal.

Warren's 11-hit attack also included 2-for-4 efforts by Hurd (2-run single) and Abby Anderson (double). Nikki Ponticelli also doubled.