Elgin powers past Larkin

Elgin sophomore Kelly Bremer has plenty of power. It just doesn't always lead to home runs.

Bremer hit her first home run that went over the fence in the first inning Wednesday to get the Maroons started in their 9-0 Upstate Eight River softball rout of crosstown rival Larkin.

“I had a lot of power. I just have to use my hips more instead of just my arms,” Bremer said.

Bremer leads the Maroons (13-9, 6-5) in doubles and added to that total as well with a sixth-inning double off the left-field wall. Bremer went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. She also caught Hannah Perryman's 12-strikeout performance.

“(Bremer) is a strong girl. If she gets ahold of it, it's going to go,” Maroons coach Chad Dahlman said. “She hits the gaps and has some power.”

Anna Eckholm led off the top of the first with a single and scored on Bremer's 2-run home run to center. Bremer also drove in a run in the third with a single. Jennah Perryman and Lissette Sanchez also drove in a run in the third with a fielder's choice as the Maroons took a 5-0 lead.

The Maroons increased the lead to 8-0 in the fourth. Eckholm, who went 2-for-3, tripled to open the inning. Eckholm and Hannah Perryman scored on a Jennah Perryman single. Jennah Perryman scored on a Larkin error. Bremer scored in the sixth on a groundout by Caroline Sobeski.

Bri Wright also had 2 hits for the Maroons.

Larkin (3-19, 0-8) had 4 hits off Hannah Perryman (10-6). The senior left-hander threw a complete game and walked just 1.

“She kept us off-balance all day,” Larkin coach Anne Vogt said. “That riseball, we knew it was coming. We've been practicing it all week. We got ourselves in some counts that were in our favor. We were looking for ball four instead of a decent pitch on 3-1.”

Kiernan Schock suffered the loss for the Royals. Schock allowed 9 hits and 9 runs, 8 earned. She walked 3 and struck out 7.

“It's nice. Love beating them, just because it's Larkin,” Hannah Perryman said.