Ullrich, Wheaton North roar past Benet
Kelsey Ullrich admits that when she was younger "she couldn't hit it all."
It was even suggested that she turn around and bat lefty.
These days, it's all going right for Ullrich and Wheaton North.
Ullrich slugged her third home run of the young season, and the Falcons beat Benet 11-4 on Monday in Wheaton for their 11th straight win.
Ullrich, who hit 7 homers last year, is one member of a junior-dominated returning lineup. Last year's 21-10 finish looks like it was just the start of something special in Wheaton.
"We only lost two girls," Ullrich said, "so we were all pumped for this year. We're all returning juniors and we've added some new people that can improve our team and hopefully take us to the next level."
Wheaton North (11-1) jumped on Benet from the start, scoring 3 runs with two outs in each of the first two innings.
In the first, Paige Wilson drew a two-out walk and Rachel Holaway reached on an error. Ullrich worked the count to 3-1, then unloaded on a high offering for a drive over the center-field fence.
"3-1, that's my hitter's count and she has to bring it down the middle," Ullrich said. "I was ready. Luckily I got a hold of it."
In the second Wilson laced a two-out, 2-run hit to left field. Holaway and Ullrich followed with walks, Ullrich's coming with the bases loaded to make it 6-0.
The Falcons made it 11-0 in the fourth, the big hit a Katie Thornton 3-run triple into the right-field corner.
Wheaton North's offense hummed over the first five innings with 9 hits and 6 walks. Wilson, Ullrich and Holaway reached base their first three times and leadoff hitter Elisabeth Holaway singled and scored in the second and fourth. Wheaton North batted around in both innings.
"The girls did a great job of pitch selection," Wheaton North coach Karen Calabrese said, "waiting for their strike and then hitting their strike."
Falcons starter Kahla Nolan (6-1) held Benet to just 1 hit with no outs leaving the infield through 4 innings. With two outs in the fifth, the Redwings (4-5) strung together 5 straight hits, making it 11-4.
"I'm glad it happened when we were up 11-0," Calabrese said, "but I told the girls 'that's your learning moment. You learn to stop the bleeding and bear down.' "
Benet's No. 9 hitter Maeve McGuire, who was 3-for-3, started the fifth-inning rally with a double and scored on a Kendall Duffy single. Allyson Staats drove in Duffy with an RBI single and Mikayla Panko followed with a 2-run single.
"We don't quit. We just can't dig these holes like this," said Benet coach Jerry Schilf, whose team lost its fourth straight. "We're leaving this game feeling good about ourselves."