West Chicago clears another DVC hurdle
A loss at Naperville North cost West Chicago a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title last spring.
Not this time.
Izzy Bruce's 2-run double broke a scoreless tie and Mary Connolly 4-hit the host Huskies 3-0 on Monday in Naperville.
West Chicago (20-6, 6-1 DVC), runner-up to Glenbard North last year and DVC champion two years ago, moved a game ahead of Naperville North (13-9, 5-2) and Glenbard North at the conference season's halfway point.
"The girls were very relaxed before this game," West Chicago coach Emily Johnson said. "Last year when we came here we weren't so relaxed. We were a little tense. Right now they're relaxed, confident and on a roll."
Openings to score were few and far between with Connolly and Naperville North's Emily Dieckmann dueling in front of error-free defenses.
In the bottom of the second Tara Degl'Innocenti drew a one-out walk and Jess Stapleton reached on a bunt single. But Connolly came back to strike out the next batter, then got a harmless pop up to end the threat. Naperville North only had one runner reach second base the rest of the way, despite Connolly's modest 3-strikeout performance.
"They got two runners on," Connolly said, "but my defense was able to pick me up. The girls, they know how to play. My defense behind me is making me feel so comfortable."
The next half-inning, West Chicago's Taylor Kutilek beat out a high throw for a two-out bunt single, and Jessica Wood blooped a single into short center. Bruce, one of West Chicago's hottest hitters, then dropped a double between Naperville North's center and right fielders to make it 2-0.
"Izzy has put the ball in play in some clutch situations," Johnson said of her .380-hitting senior. "She does a great job hitting the ball up the middle and she does a great job with two strikes on her."
Kaity Olson followed with a walk and Connolly shot a single into left field, scoring Bruce.
"They got their big hits when they needed it," Naperville North coach Jerry Kedziora said, "and we didn't. We had second and third against one of the best pitchers in the county, if not the state. Those opportunities don't come very often. When they do you have to take advantage."
West Chicago, 16-1 over its last 17 games, is in the driver's seat in the DVC. Connolly isn't taking anything for granted.
"We can't play any team differently in this conference," Connolly said. "It used to be 'these teams are at the top and these teams aren't as good.' This year every team is pretty much equal."
Sammy Marshall was 2-for-3 for Naperville North, but West Chicago did keep DuPage County's stolen base leader without one. Caitlyn Warren also reached base twice.
"Emily pitched a great game for us," Kedziora said. "They just hit the ball when they needed to, and they're a great team.
"Looking at that team (West Chicago), hopefully they can falter down the line in conference. But we got a target on our backs now. We're not going to sneak up on anybody."