Geneva spoils Metea’s varsity debut
With wins over Jacobs and West Chicago in its last two games, Geneva entered Tuesday’s first Upstate Eight Conference game with Metea Valley on a roll.
The Mustangs, meanwhile, had not yet played a varsity game. This week. This year. Last season. Ever.
Geneva continued its fine play to start the season, picking up a 5-3 victory, while Metea Valley coach Kris Kalivas also was able to find positives to build on.
“We’re very happy, we got off to a nice start, which is what we were hoping for,” Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. “We have played well every game so far.”
Just 1-7 to open last year before playing a strong second half to finish 21-17, the Vikings were determined to get off to a better start this spring.
They have done just that, now 5-2. Kelly McCaffrey has been in the circle every game, winning again Tuesday by scattering 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out eight.
Geneva took a 1-0 lead in the first when Dori Rogers led off with a single and scored on the first of Kirsten Searcy’s 3 singles.
Metea grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third when Antoniette Senese walked and scored on sophomore Anna Peterson’s 2-run home run over the fence in center.
“Anna is a smooth kid and is capable of doing that,” Kalivas said.
Geneva quickly regained the lead 3-2 in its half of the third on singles by Elana Wright, Melissa Barber and Searcy and capitalizing on an error in center field.
The Vikings added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth. Searcy again came through with an RBI single in the fifth. Ninth hitter Bridget Weitzel sparked the sixth-inning rally with a triple off the fence and then scored on Rogers’ bunt.
“I just saw my pitch and turned on it,” Weitzel said. “I have been struggling lately so I was real happy to get the good contact on the ball.”
Emily Baker drove in Metea’s final run with a groundout in the seventh before McCaffrey closed the door for her fifth win.
“I thought we stayed at it and battled at the plate and made her work,” Kalivas said.
Kalivas split her pitchers with Alexa Caputo working the first three innings and Stephanie Bova the final three. Both allowed 2 earned runs.
“I thought both pitchers did a great job,” Kalivas said. “I know we made some errors, but for our first varsity game I thought we played well. (Geneva is) ranked 18th in the area, and I thought we came in and gave them a good game.”
McCaffrey will pitch her third game in as many days when Geneva plays South Elgin Wednesday — a change from the past few years when she has split time in the circle.
“She has known this year is coming and is excited about the opportunity to get out there so often,” Dierks said. “On one hand it might help her get in a rhythm. As long as stays physically strong she should be fine.”