Cary-Grove FVC Valley champ
As an incoming freshman, Lisa Semro marveled at the teamwork the Cary-Grove softball team displayed.
Semro was an integral part of a team effort in which every player scored or batted a run in as the Trojans downed Huntley 10-6 Monday in Huntley.
The wins gives Cary-Grove (19-1, 11-0) its second-straight Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship, the first time in program history that as team has repeated as league champion.
“It was really good to have such great teamwork,” said Semro, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run. “Everyone contributes, everyday.”
The top-ranked Trojans, who won their 18th straight, consistently hit and scored against Huntley (11-11, 6-4) scoring at least a run in 5 of the 7 innings. Cary-Grove scored 7 runs in the first four innings and led 7-1 by the top of the fifth. The Trojans finished the game with 15 hits off Huntley starter Taylor Larson (9-9).
“That’s one thing about our team, they all contribute 1-9,” Trojans’ coach Tammy Olson said. “There’s no one who didn’t. (Semro) and Emma (Gaulke) did a great job. The two of them paired together and it worked really well today. They had very strong, solid hits.”
Gaulke went 3-for-5 with a run, getting hits in her first 3 at-bats. Leadoff hitter Eleni Polites was also 4-for-5 with a couple runs. Even No. 9 hitter Sara Markelonis got into the action finishing 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Sophomore Lindsay Efflandt (19-1) did the work in the circle with 8 strikeouts. She allowed just 2 hits over the first 4 innings, a solo home run to freshman Angela Tribuizo, her third of the season. Even after giving up 4 runs on 3 hits in the fifth, Efflandt responded in the sixth by striking out the side.
Where the Trojans spread their bats around from inning to inning, Huntley recorded 6 of its 8 hits in just two innings. After holding the Trojans scoreless in the fifth, the first inning in which Cary-Grove did not score, Huntley put up 4 runs on 3 hits.
Junior Tara Lycos had a double to score Brittany Koss and Kelsey Hagan for the Red Raiders.
The other Red Raider run was a solo home run from Hagan, her fourth, in the bottom of the seventh.
“You can’t wait until the fifth inning to get the bats going,” Red Raiders coach Mark Petryniec said. “Against Cary-Grove and a pitcher like Efflandt, you put up 6 runs with hope that it’s enough to win the game. Efflandt pitched a great game. She hit her spots.”