Luther N. picks up a win despite Krizanovic’s pick-offs

You better not stray too far off the bases when you are playing Christian Liberty’s softball team.

Megan Krizanovic, a two-time all-league pick at catcher in the Northeastern Athletic Conference, will be watching you.

Four times, the McHenry native picked off runners on Thursday at Methodist Park in Arlington Heights.

Two were thrown to third baseman Carly Baric, with another pair to first baseman Megan Sullivan.

“She’s really good at that (picking off runners),” said Sullivan after the Chargers dropped a 9-3 decision to a good Luther North team (9-0, 4-0). “If I see the runner is too far off the base, I know I have to get back to the base because she (Krizanovic) will be throwing it to me.”

With her rifle-like arm, Krizanovic picked off two runners at third base in the third inning, then one apiece to Sullivan in fourth and seventh innings.

“Amazing arm,” said Luther North coach Chuck Goss. “She is a very good catcher and she has confidence in her teammates. She has a great arm and I think she has improved so much with her bat.”

The clean-up hitting Krizanovic, who is hitting near .750, belted her first two triples of the season and was 3-for-3 at the plate.

No. 5 hitter Beth Cunningham (sophomore), who played shortstop Thursday, was 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI while senior Zoe Whyte had the other hit for the Chargers (1-7, 1-3).

“She (Krizanovic) has a really quick throw,” Cunningham said. “You always have to be ready.”

“If I see the runner leading off too much, I’ll try to throw the ball right under them,” said Krizanovic, who plays for the Crystal Lake TidalWave in the summer. “I’ve been playing a long time and I have leaned to trust my fielders.”

Luther North, which outhit the Chargers 24-22 in a 10-9 win on Tuesday in Chicago, grabbed an 8-2 lead after three innings on Thursday.

Chargers junior pitcher Amber Monasterio did not give up a hit or earned run in the final four innings.

With four players missing, two of them starters, due to various reasons, Christian Liberty coach Dave Krizanovic had only nine girls available.

“We had lot of people out of position,” said the first-year coach.

Fremd 5, Mundelein 0: Junior Rachel Doering (6-0) fired a 2-hit shutout with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk as visiting Fremd (12-0-1) received a solo home run from junior Janelle Schneider (2-for-2) for a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning.

The Vikings added 4 runs in the sixth, getting a two-out, 2 run single from senior Stacey Hnytka (2-for-3) and RBI single from junior Megan Hubbard.

Mandi Matsumoto had a double and was 2-for-4 for the Vikings.

St. Viator 17, Maine East 1 (5 innings): Senior Julie Sweeney and freshman Sam Hogan combined for a 1-hitter as the visiting Lions (5-7) won for the fourth time in their last five games.

Sweeney (4-7) struck out five while Tayler Lenart (2-3) and Angelica Dickey (2-3, 3 RB) led the Lions’ offense.

Teammates Gina Mastrodomenico and Alex Flasch also belted doubles.

“The girls continue to improve with each game,” said Lions coach Dan Twarog. “It was a cold and windy day to pitch, hit and field. However, we played above the weather and worked hard to stay focused. This sets us up nicely to begin our conference games on Saturday (twin bill at Marian Catholic).”

Glenbard East 9, Schaumburg 1: Senior Brianne Lingl (1-for-2) and junior pitcher Rene Kakareka (1-for-3, RBI), who is now 3-1, had the only hits for visiting Schaumburg (5-3) in the nonconference game.