Micucci allows only 1 as Stevenson plays for a cure

Besides the pitching circle and foul lines, all of which were neatly spread in pink chalk, and pink accessories worn by the players from both teams, something else brightened up Stevenson's varsity softball complex Tuesday.

People.

Lots of them, including many breast cancer survivors, who were honored in a ceremony before the game.

On a day the Patriots hosted Lake Forest in a "Play for a Cure" game to promote breast cancer awareness, those in attendance watched the home team play with a purpose. Allie Micucci pitched a five-inning 1-hitter, and she and her Stevenson teammates pounded out 16 hits in a 12-0 win.

Big victory. Big crowd.

Talk about a good day for the Patriots.

"Football did their fundraiser for breast cancer at the beginning of the year, and that had a huge turnout," said Micucci, wearing pink pre-wrap to hold back her hair and sporting a tattoo of a breast cancer awareness ribbon on her right check. Every Stevenson player wore pink shoelaces.

"Softball's not really well known at our school. It's like, it's there. It's not a big thing," Micucci added. "So it was really cool that so many people bought a bracelet or bought a T-shirt (leading up to the game)."

Stevenson's senior ace pitched as if she were inspired. Micucci struck out 12 Scouts, including 10 in a row. After walking lefty Julia Retzky to start the game, Micucci fanned the side to start her run of consecutive strikeouts.

"She was certainly liking that high part of the zone," said Stevenson coach Larry Friedrichs, whose team improved to 7-8 and 3-2 in the North Suburban Lake Division. "And they were biting on it."

Lake Forest's No. 3 hitter, Kristen Borrasso, ended Micucci's strikeout run by doubling into the gap with one out in the fourth. Borrasso's booming hit split left fielder Jordan Willis and center fielder Ashley Niedermayer.

"I got a little lazy," Micucci said. "The curve-spin just wasn't going. I didn't spin it enough and she got a hold of it. I didn't think it was going to go that far, but it was a great hit."

Lake Forest (1-8, 0-3) hit only one other ball out of the infield.

"We've been working a lot on hitting and being more aggressive, which we were," Scouts coach Susie Brugioni said. "We just got to swing at better pitches. A lot of it is their confidence."

Leadoff hitter Emma Patrash led the Stevenson offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI single, a run scored and stolen base. The Patriots' Nos. 4-9 hitters - Rebekah Ozga, Micucci, Genny Duffy, Willis, Megan Felz and Niedermayer - all went 2-for-3. Duffy (3 RBI) and Micucci each had triples to drive in runs. Alyssa Vechiola contributed an RBI single in a 7-run fourth - Stevenson's eighth straight hit after two were out.

"It's really a good-hitting lineup," Friedrichs said. "It can turn itself over very nicely."

Micucci had another reason to celebrate. It was her - and her team's - first shutout of the season.

"It's about time," she said.