Geneva battles back, sinks St. Charles East
Geneva's 6-5 win over St. Charles East on Monday goes down as the Vikings' best of the year, and on the subject of "best of" we're just getting started.
Geneva's rally from 3 runs down in the last of the sixth is its best come-from-behind win in the last 15 years, according to someone who has seen them all.
"For us I can't pick out a better comeback," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "With two outs and nobody on (in their 4-run sixth inning), that was a great job of our girls answering the call. I thought we played great the whole game."
While St. Charles East (9-3) came in with the decidedly better record, Geneva (8-10) led nearly all game. The Vikings jumped ahead with runs in the first and second inning, and still had that 2-0 lead until St. Charles East broke loose with 5 runs in the sixth inning that gave them a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead.
Instead, Geneva rallied after two quick outs in the sixth. No. 8 hitter Clare Stribling, who singled in her first two at-bats, fouled off a pair of 2-strike pitches to draw a walk. Elana Wright was hit by a pitch.
Freshman Bridget Weitzel continued her hot hitting with a single to score Stribling. Dori Rogers walked to load the bases.
That brought up Melissa Barber, Geneva's No. 3 hitter and an all-area selection last year who hasn't been hitting quite as well in her senior season. Barber jumped on the first pitch she saw, nearly driving it out for a grand slam, instead going for a double that cleared the bases and put the Vikings back in front 6-5.
"I've been struggling a little this year," Barber said. "I was seeing the ball well today and I just looked for my pitch. As soon as I hit it I knew I had the sweet spot on that one. I was happy to get my job done."
St. Charles East coach Kelly Horan brought in Gaby Moe, who got the final out - but the damage was done.
"We had some quality at-bats when we didn't swing at pitches out of the zone," Dierks said. "She's (Barber) the one we would want in a spot like that. She got a pitch to hit and was aggressive. She really came through."
St. Charles East had a chance to turn the score around one more time in the seventh and got off to a great start when Jenny Niemiec singled.
Geneva starter Kelly McCaffrey worked her way through the Saints' 4-5-6-7 hitters, getting a fielder's choice and then her only strikeout of the game when she caught Rae Anne Payleitner looking. The Vikings had been careful with Payleitner all day, walking her twice after she doubled in the second inning.
After an error put runners at first and second with two outs, McCaffrey ended the game by getting Dani Asquini on a comebacker.
"Their 3-4-5-6 hitters all have power," Dierks said. "It's a tough assignment for the pitcher."
McCaffrey was up to the challenge, holding the Saints scoreless in every inning but the sixth. She got plenty of help from her defense, including a diving catch in left field by Wright, a heads-up play by her catcher Stribling to throw out a runner at second after a wild pitch and several flawless plays at third base from freshman Kirsten Searcy.
St. Charles East scored its runs on RBI singles by Steph Roan and Asquini, Bethany Carrignan's 2-run double that broke a 2-2 tie, and Mary Kate Brooks' RBI double to deep right.
"It seems like things were piling up against us a little which just makes me that much more excited we rallied," Dierks said.
Niemiec, Asquini and Carrignan all had 2 hits for the Saints, as did Geneva's Weitzel, Rogers and Stribling.
"My only complaint with the kids is we came out on our heels," Horan said. "We have to be better than that."
Horan wasn't happy about Dierks' reaction to an interference call in the first inning. Geneva still scored a run on an RBI single by Stacey Cladis. The interference call prevented a bigger inning.
"I'm proud of my kids because of their sportsmanship," Horan said. "I'm proud how they attacked the ball at the plate. What we need to fix is coming out from the get-go."