Fresh faces fuel Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove freshman Julia Camardo loves pitching when her team is hitting well.
“It make things so much easier,” she said.
Camardo got her way on Wednesday.
The Bison clubbed 10 hits and scored as many runs in a 10-4 come-from-behind victory over visiting Rolling Meadows in the Mid-Suburban East softball contest.
And Camardo did not make things so easy on Meadows after it scored 4 runs in the first inning on 3 walks, an error and 1 hit.
Camardo walked only one batter the rest of the way while finishing with a 5-hitter and 3 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Bison (7-13, 3-5) rallied to within 4-3 after two innings and then erupted for 7 runs in the third inning.
“When we can give Julia runs, she settles into the game,” said Bison coach Jamie Paul. “She threw well. We’ve just got to get her run support.”
Meadows (13-8, 4-4) got a 2-run single from Jenny Watson, a fielder’s choice RBI by starting pitcher Josie Suchecki and an RBI groundout by Chloe Prodanovic for its 4-0 advantage.
BG scored in the bottom of the first on an RBI double to left by freshman Dea Barton, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. The No. 3 hitting Barton was one of four freshmen (Caitlin Catino, Maddi Morini and Camardo) in the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Barton’s sister, Erin, is a junior and the Bison cleanup hitter.
“I used to be the youngest on the team,” said Erin, who has been playing softball with her younger sister for several years. “Now I’m one of the oldest. It different. But these are all really talented freshmen.”
Catino went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI while Morini drew a bases-loaded walk in BG’s 7-run third inning.
After 4 walks to start the third inning, BG then strung together three straight singles from Catino, junior Megan Fu and Dea Barton.
Fu’s single brought in 2 runs and the junior right fielder also made a nice catch running to her left to end the game.
Senior Jessie Lazzara and junior Amanda Salzman also doubled in BG’s 10-hit attack. Bison senior Becca Winter drew three straight walks.
“Everyone will continue to grow with experience,” Paul said. “We are really excited about our future.
“We hope we can use this game for momentum the rest of the season.”
“The team chemistry is really good,” Camardo (5-8) added. “We can’t even tell we are different ages. We needed this win. We are definitely coming together and working better together.”
Meadows freshman Lauren Hattory threw the final 3 innings, striking out three. She did not give up a run in the final three innings.
Watson ended up 2-for-3 for the Mustangs. Suchecki, Lane Winkler and catcher Sarah Caprio had the other hits for Meadows, which is still without veteran pitchers Sara Brunlieb and Hannah Whidden.
“We have to do a better job hitting, with pitch selection and our attitude,” said Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski. “We need a more positive attitude, cheering each teammate on. These are things we can take care of. We walked a few batters but give Buffalo Grove credit, they hit the ball, too.”