Softball: Zdroik, Stapay combine on no-hitter for St. Edward

It was nearly a perfect debut for new St. Edward softball coach Paul Netzel on Tuesday at the Elgin Sports Complex.

Lindsay Zdroik and Emily Stapay combined for a no-hitter with just one opposing batter reaching base and the Green Wave pounded out 13 hits in a 19-0 5-inning slaughter rule win over Francis W. Parker.

"My job is pretty easy when you have this kind of talent," Netzel said. "It's a great group of girls with a lot of returning players that have a lot of experience. So, they already know what they are doing. The senior leadership has been so strong and we have some new girls too who are ready to contribute. My job is pretty much to keep the focus on having fun."

Zdroik was the starting pitcher and struck out all six batters she faced.

"We were really excited and anxious to get the season started," Zdroik said. "Coach has made everything a lot of fun so we came out real loose and ready to play. I was feeling confident pitching. I know I have a great defense behind me and that just makes it easier to go out and throw strikes."

Zdroik also led the offense going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and 4 RBI.

"My hitting has been struggling a little in practice," Zdroik said. "But I think some of that was wanting to hit in a real game. It's different than just taking batting practice. Once we started playing I was ready."

All of the Green Wave were ready from the start. St. Edward exploded for 10 runs in the first inning.

'We've had a chance to get outside and have about 10 or 12 practices with live pitching," Netzel said. "I think that has helped a lot. They were ready to go."

While the Green Wave squad is loaded with experience it was a freshman, Sarah Medoza (2-for-3), who delivered the big blow in the first inning with a bases-loaded triple on a rope to the right-center field gap.

"It was a little intimidating at first coming up as a freshman," Mendoza said. "But everyone has been great and made me feel like a part of the team right away. It felt amazing to get that first hit on my first time up. I was a little nervous, but after that I felt like I got this."

Zdroik had a 2-run double and an RBI single in the first inning. Catcher Allison Stratman added a 2-run double and Lindsey Mauritzen had an RBI triple.

The Green Wave added a run in the second inning and one more in the third on Zdroik's homer to left. St. Edward then closed out the scoring with 7 in the fourth inning. Stapay had a 2-run double.

Stapay pitched the final 3 innings, retiring 9 straight batters after hitting the first batter she faced to start the third inning. Stapay had 5 strikeouts.

"We are set up real good with our pitching," Netzel said. "The key thing is they throw strikes. They also have a veteran catcher in Allison behind the plate who does a great job and keeps them focused."