Softball: Run on South Elgin at your own risk
Even as he left his home field following an impressive 5-1 win over Upstate Eight Valley leader South Elgin Tuesday, there was something about the Storm that had Blackhawks coach Randy Hayslett shaking his head in amazement.
"Collectively, never seen all three of the outfielders throw the ball on the dime like that," Hayslett said.
The Blackhawks were aggressive on the basepaths trying to take the extra base and putting the pressure on the Storm.
South Elgin was up to the task. Center fielder Casey Brennan threw out a runner at second. Right fielder Julianna Battaglia gunned down a runner at the plate.
Alyssa Kendall also flashed a strong throwing arm nearly getting a runner going to third, making a play that didn't look like it would be close turn into a 50-50 call.
Once she was finished pitching, Geneva Pollman moved to the outfield and also came up firing.
Every throw from every South Elgin outfielder was on a line to whatever base West Aurora was trying to take.
"It's my 20th season and it's by far the best outfield we've had," South Elgin coach Brad Reynard said. "It's our strength. They can track it down and throw."
Brennan also had a big day at the plate going 4-for-4 and hitting a bullet every time up. The Storm bounced back from that loss to West Aurora with three straight conference wins to maintain first place at 8-2.
"That's why she's up there," Reynard said of his leadoff hitter Brennan. "She's a beast. She's seeing the ball real well and being aggressive and getting herself in good hitters counts. She's a great hitter, got great fundamentals and overall is really good."
Still contributing: While West Aurora junior Payton Lundberg hasn't been pitching much this spring as she works to get her command back, the returning All-Area ace is finding different ways to help the Blackhawks.
Lundberg, who went 11-4 last year with 187 strikeouts in 92 innings with a 1.46 ERA and 0.834 WHIP, has thrown in just a couple games. But she's still in the lineup and helping her team at the plate.
On Tuesday Lundberg drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in her first at-bat against South Elgin, laid down a sacrifice bunt her second time up and ripped a run-scoring single up the middle in her third at-bat.
"She's not back where she wants to be (as far as pitching), but she will get there," Hayslett said. "She's a good hitter. She's a big part of the team regardless (of pitching). Payton has a good bat, great attitude, she's a captain and a big part of the team."
Chargers charging: Huntley entered Friday's matchup against Dundee-Crown undefeated in the Fox Valley Conference at 4-0 and 14-3 overall, but Sydney Ruggles, Cady English and company changed that.
The Chargers improved to 9-8 and 5-2 in conference with a 4-2 win thanks to a 2-run home run by English in the seventh inning and Ruggles striking out 10 batters while only allowing 4 hits.
"Sydney had an excellent game keeping Huntley's hitters off balance," Dundee-Crown coach Tracy Beatty said. "She had great composure. Our outfield made great catches and we hit the ball hard. Cady English came through with her best hit ever."
Ruggles, a Loyola recruit, now has 161 strikeouts in 112 innings. She has a 1.93 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
As a junior Ruggles won 21 games with a 1.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 264 strikeouts in 199 innings.
Warming up: A few days ago St. Charles East coach Jarod Gutesha predicted some big days coming soon for his offense once the weather turned. Some of those long fly balls that died in the cold weather would find their way over the fence.
Sure enough, the Saints belted three long balls Friday in a 9-5, extra-inning win at Geneva. Krista Sbarra, Lauren Luna and Maddy Stout all hit home runs as the Saints took the Upstate Eight River lead by a game in the loss column over defending champion Geneva.
"I believe as the temperature warms up the bats will go and go and go," Gutesha said. "We've hit a lot of balls hard this spring. It's exciting the weather is breaking because we've had enough of the cold and the snow."