Glenbard South survives test from Glenbard North
Saturday morning's doubleheader between undefeated Glenbard South and Glenbard North - fourth and eighth, respectively, in the latest Daily Herald softball rankings - lived up to its billing in Game 1.
The Raiders and junior Jess Wilkes were cruising along with a comfortable 6-1 lead going into the sixth inning. Wilkes retired the first two Glenbard North hitters she faced, but the Panthers erupted for four runs to make it 6-5.
However, Wilkes shut down the Panthers with a 1-2-3 seventh to preserve the 6-5 victory and keep the Raiders' record spotless at 13-0.
Prior to Glenbard North's offensive outburst, Wilkes kept Panthers hitters in check. She faced one batter over the minimum through 52/3 innings and surrendered just one hit - a two-out solo homer in the fourth by Jenny Nelson into a stiff wind.
Wilkes, who fanned seven and walked one, said afterward that she remained "focused on getting outs" even though the Panthers had climbed back into the game.
"They are a great hitting team," she said. "I didn't want them to take advantage of it."
Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew said the Panthers' sixth-inning rally was a result of his team getting back to basics at the plate.
"We said we needed to get back to where we were," he said. "Get back to good habits and hit the ball to the opposite field. It took us four innings to get going. Our bats were slow there for the first four innings, but we came back and battled and made it an exciting one."
Bri Harn doubled off the left-field fence to get things going for Glenbard North, then Susan Lindstrom lined a double into the right-center field gap that drove in Harn. A walk to Nelson set the stage for Alyssa Jasinski, whose line drive down the right-field line skipped all the way to the fence for a 2-run triple.
Alexis Simone plated Jasinski with a flyball that was lost in the sun and turned into a double.
"As they got closer, you get a little nervous," said Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda. "But Jess is just a rock out there. Luckily, we kept our composure. They're a great group of kids that stay together."
Raiders second baseman Brianna Meath, who delivered RBI singles in both the second and fourth innings, reached base on an error to lead off the game. She advanced to third following two infield outs and scored on a wild pitch to give Glenbard South a 1-0 lead.
Meath finished the morning 3-for-4.
"Glenbard South is always tough every year," said Sanew, whose Panthers (7-2) play Monday through Friday next week, starting with a home game against Naperville North. "This was a great battle. It shows both teams are very competitive."
The Raiders manufactured another run in the first to make it 2-0. Danielle Chitkowski walked and later scored when Wilkes drew a walk, rounded first, paused for a moment and then scampered to second.
Wilkes helped herself out by belting a 2-run home run in the third inning that put the Raiders ahead 5-1. All told, the win was sweet for both Wilkes and the Raiders.
"I went to bed really early last night," she said. "They got us last year, and this was our year to get them. They beat us pretty good last year. They are very good every year. I've been playing against a lot of the girls on Glenbard North since I was little, so it's great to get back at them for once."
Hannah Davey also doubled for the Raiders, who'll visit Yorkville on Tuesday.
"We never want to be cocky," Fonda said of Glenbard South's unbeaten record so far, "but we knew we'd be a solid team. These kids have worked hard every single game."