Moran, Barrington unload vs. Conant
Going into the Wednesday's game, Barrington junior Dana Moran had only 10 at-bats.
She had another one at Conant on Wednesday.
And it turned the tide of the game.
Pinch-hitting in the fourth inning with two outs, the bases loaded and the game tied at 2-2, Moran belted a two-strike bases-loaded triple to right field scoring Kiley Dolezal, Jordan Wekony and Colleen Shandley.
The Fillies never looked back and posted a 7-4 win in the Mid-Suburban West softball game.
"I knew it was a chance to prove myself," said Moran about her third and biggest hit of the season. "I knew I had to overcome my nerves and just make contact."
"That just shows the quality young lady she is," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose team improved to 13-3 and 3-2 in the West. "She is a hard worker. It's her first year on varsity and she is getting better every day."
The Cougars (15-3, 3-2) jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second when pinch runner Hannah Depa scooted home on a wild pitch and Sarah Pawlik (3-for-4 with a double) scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Allie Bauch (2-for-4).
"Getting down 2-0 kind of put a little fire under us," said Fillies right fielder Liz Owen.
"You can't be nervous when you get down," added center fielder Nora Logue. "You've just got to fight through it."
The Fillies fought back by stringing together 5 straight hits to start the 6-run fourth inning, capped by Kiersten's Tinkoff's single to left which scored Kelsey Kazmier.
Owen started the rally with a single to right, followed by Logue's basehit to center and a bunt by freshman Loren Krzysko, who went 3-for-4.
Kristin Kuhn singled up the middle to the game at 2-2. The Fillies then proceeded to load the bases, setting up Moran's big triple.
"That was amazing by Dana," Logue said. "I was so happy for her."
The Fillies added a run the seventh when Tinkoff (2-for-4) doubled sharply to left and scored on Krzysko's one-out single to left.
Dolezal (12-3) struck out six, including the side in the third inning after Conant had loaded the bases with two outs.
Sophomore Briana Cavin (8-3), throwing to her freshman sister Miranda, recorded 8 strikeouts.
"Unfortunately, we were not 100 percent," said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith, who was without starting center fielder and leading hitter Hilary O'Donnell (illness) and third baseman Vicki McGuire (pulled quad). "And that's tough when you are going against a team like Barrington. We played well for six and a half innings.
"Everyone put their hearts into it, but it does make it hard to jell sometimes when a few of the pieces are missing. We'll have another chance against them later."