Lake Park ready for next ‘push’
A young Lake Park team has received a baptism under fire in the early going this season.
It doesn’t get any easier this weekend.
The Lancers make their annual trek to Ashland, Ohio, for the Wendy’s Spring Classic.
Lake Park (5-6) has already played four games with teams ranked in the Daily Herald Top 10, including No. 2 St. Charles North, No. 5 Glenbard North and a doubleheader with No. 9 Conant. That doesn’t include its season opener against state power Lockport.
In Ashland the Lancers open up Thursday night with Ft. Wayne’s Bishop Dwenger, Indiana’s defending Class 3A state champion. That team features Boston College recruit Andrea Filler and Purdue-bound shortstop Ashley Burkhardt. Pool play starts Friday, with Lake Park’s first game against Ohio’s state runner-up from last year, Poland Seminary. Poland Seminary junior pitcher Erin Gabriel, committed to Tennessee, was Ohio’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010.
“That’s why we go. We wouldn’t be going if we weren’t going to be pushed,” Lake Park coach Tom Mazzie said. “We can get that great competition out here, but it’s always nice to go out there and get another taste of good softball.”
Lake Park has enjoyed great success at the Wendy’s Classic, now in its 18th year, with a record of 18-3 in Ashland. The Lancers head to Ashland riding a modest three-game winning streak.
“Our early-season schedule prepares us for that,” Mazzie said. “We always come back stronger from this trip.”
Amazing Grace:Lisle pitcher Bekka Houda was quick to credit catcher Grace Riley after beating Coal City for the second time this week.With good reason.In her second season as starting catcher Riley has grown by leaps and bounds. At the plate the Lions junior is hitting .438 with a .500 slugging percentage and 4 runs batted in. Even more important, Riley is now calling pitches for the first time and is showing off a strong arm behind the plate. She nearly picked off a Coal City runner at first base Tuesday with a quick, accurate throw.#147;She is probably our most improved player so far this year,#148; Lisle coach Jen Pomatto said. #147;She#146;s found her voice, she#146;s calling the pitches and she#146;s done a phenomenal job with that. She#146;s really come in this year and shown she can handle it. She#146;s definitely grown the last couple years.#148;Panthers on the prowl:No team has been more dominant in the early going than 7-0 Glenbard North. The Panthers have outscored their opponents by a combined 61-3. The schedule picks up next week when the DVC slate starts. Glenbard North is at West Chicago April 22 in a matchup of the last two DVC champions. The day before, No. 5 Glenbard North hosts No. 2 St. Charles North.Like Day and Knight:Immaculate Conception had just one outside practice before its March 19 season opener. The Knights played like it early. A bevy of walks and errors added up to a 1-6 start against a brutal early schedule. With Indiana recruit Katelyn Conenna home sick against Lisle, the Knights committed 5 errors in an 8-0 loss.Since then, though, IC has cuts its walks in half and the errors are way down, too. IC has won five straight games to even its record at 6-6.#147;I wanted to come out of the first 10 games at worst 5-5, and we were 4-6. We gave away games,#148; IC coach Frank Reaber said. #147;But we are playing better now.#148;On Monday IC trailed 8-4, and lost second baseman Judy Morris to a concussion. But the Knights rallied for a 9-8 win.Reaber credited Briana Iosco for improved pitching, Conenna is playing a solid shortstop despite getting pitched around consistently at the plate, and Jennifer Clementi has made big strides at first base. Maria Kieliszewski also is swinging a hot bat.IC started 1-4 last year before finishing 22-10.#147;We#146;re starting to hit the way I know we can,#148; Reaber said, admitting #147;the schedule has lightened up.#148;