Big inning propels Barrington by Jacobs

Barrington softball coach Perry Peterson and his staff have made it very clear the Fillies’ focus this spring is on hitting.

So even though Barrington beat Jacobs 10-0 in five innings Wednesday at Lageschulte Field, Peterson was still stressing hitting after the game.

“There’s a large emphasis on our team to hit better this year,” Peterson said. “We’ve been emphasizing hitting more than ever.”

The Fillies (4-1) scored all their runs in the bottom of the second inning off Jacobs’ starter Amber Livingston, who stepped into the circle for the Golden Eagles’ season opener in place of senior ace Marissa Lombardo, who is out of town on a family matter.

“We had one good inning,” Peterson said, “but we had other chances to score and didn’t.”

That one good inning was a real good one for the Fillies.

Senior Kiersten Tinkoff led the inning off with a double, Elizabeth Owen reached on an error and junior Jordan Wekony doubled in Tinkoff to start the onslaught. Vasi Panos then ripped a 2-run double, Kristin Kuhn walked, K.D. Madden singled, Ally McLaughlin laid down a sacrifice bunt, Kelsey Kazmier hit an RBI fielder’s choice grounder, Loren Krzysko delivered an RBI single, Tinkoff popped out for the second out, Owen stroked a 2-run single and Wekony finished the barrage with the biggest blow of the day, a 2-run home run that bounced off the top of the right-center field fence and then over.

In all Barrington sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning.

Meanwhile, Barrington senior ace Kiley Dolezal was nothing short of lights out. She didn’t allow Jacobs a hit until there was one out in the top of the fifth and the Golden Eagles’ Marie Ladick dumped a single over first base that also moved Alyssa Lach, who had reached on an error, to second.

Peterson then turned to junior Emma Woods to finish the game. Woods gave up a single to Tori Berg to load the bases then struck out Jacobs’ next two hitters to end the game on the slaughter rule.

“You can’t worry about what if something happens,” said Woods of preserving the shutout. “You just have to focus on what you can do to contribute to your team. I had to get those two batters out and take responsibility. I had to step up and do my job.”

Woods’ solid emergence in the circle gives the Fillies some depth behind Dolezal.

“She brings a different aspect for our game,” Peterson said. “ She’s an aggressive kid and she’ll do a nice job when she gets going. She’s making strides.”

Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer saw a light at the end of the tunnel, finally.

“We haven’t been on a field in almost two weeks, but that’s no excuse,” Bauer said. “They were ready for us and they’re a good team.

“We knew there was a (no-hitter) going. I’m glad we responded and at least put some pressure on them in that last inning.”

Jacobs will host a quad Saturday that includes Lincoln-Way Central, Hoffman Estates and South Elgin.