Dundee-Crown takes it to Grayslake North

Fox Valley Conference softball coaches beware.

Dundee-Crown is the real deal.

The Chargers moved to 10-4 for the season with a 9-2 FVC crossover win over Grayslake North in Carpentersville Tuesday afternoon.

"It was an excellent team effort," said D-C coach Tracy Beatty. "We got good pitching and really hit the ball well."

Beatty received a solid effort in the pitchers circle from freshman Sydney Ruggles.

Ruggles, who struck out 10 without a walk in 7 innings, gave up 2 runs while scattering 8 hits. The Knights (9-9) left 7 runners on base.

"Sydney pitched great," said Beatty. "She did a great job of working out of some jams. She kept their hitters off stride."

Ruggles' freshman classmate Kayla Sjodin got the Chargers on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the second. D-C tallied 2 more unearned runs in the inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The Chargers scored again in the third on a long solo home run to left field by Isabel Rodriguez.

"I wasn't swinging for a homer," said the D-C senior. "I got a good fastball to hit and got a good swing at it. It is fun to win. It has been an

exciting season so far. Everybody is playing so well."

The visiting Knights sliced the Charger lead in half with 2 runs in the sixth on a 2-RBI single by losing pitcher Jenna Pozezinski to make the score 4-2.

Dundee-Crown seized total control of the game with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning.

Aided by 3 Knight errors, the key hits for the Chargers were courtesy of a 2-RBI single by Megan Emerson and run-scoring single from pinch-hitter Ashley Czerwinski.

"We did a great job of getting back in the game with two in the sixth," said Grayslake North coach Molly Tomlinson. "Our defense really hurt us in the inning. Offensively, we had plenty of chances. We couldn't get the key hit. Give Dundee-Crown credit. They are a much improved team."

D-C, which collected 8 hits off Pozezinski and reliever Danielle Runyan, received 2 hits each from Sjodin and Emerson.

The Knights were led by Brooke Phillips, who had 3 hits, a stolen base and a run scored. Jessica Vaughn collected 2 hits with a double and a run scored and Pozezinski delivered 2 hits and drove in the Knights' only runs of the game.