Softball: Taft powers past Maine West
Taft transfer Sam Nelson was in double figures for home runs last spring when she started for Trinity High School in River Forest.
On Tuesday at Maine West, she had double home runs in one game.
Nelson belted a solo shot in the first inning and a 2-run blast in Eagles' 8-run fourth inning.
The junior third baseman, looking to play at the Division I level in college, finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI as the Eagles stopped the host Warriors 13-2 in six innings in nonconference softball action.
Both of Nelson's long balls easily cleared the right-center field fence.
"Her second homer was even more impressive because we were supposed to pitch her inside and it's tough to hit an inside pitch to right field," said West coach Jim Dvorak, whose team (4-2) was missing three starters (outfielder Brianna Torres and Brianna Migaczewski and catcher Amanda Byrne). "We had a lot of inexperience out there and it showed up a little. We can't wait to get all our girls back and healthy.
"It was a tough game (5 errors) but Taft really hit the ball hard and Jess (Steingard, who had 7 strikeouts) did not have her best stuff today. We were trying to figure some things out. She was keeping the ball over the plate quite a bit."
Other multiple hitters for Taft (2-2) were Kiana Tacaad (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 run, triple, double), Hailey Buzzo (2-for-3, 1 run) and Olivia Ybarra (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run).
Nelson's 2 blasts were her first homers for her new school.
"It was really important to get this win because we wanted to make a statement that we can go far in the city (second to Lane Tech last year) and state," Nelson said. "And we wanted to bounce back (from a doubleheader loss to Leyden on Saturday) and show we're still going to be a contender."
Gabbi Demma continued to show she is one of the top hitters in the area. West's senior second baseman went 1-for-2 with a double to lead off the sixth.
"I just think they have a good hitting team and we were making errors," Demma said. "It was a close game for three innings (West trailed only 1-0) but they started scoring and we never got back into it. We just learned you never give up and keep playing to the end."
The Warriors had 4 of their 6 hits in the final two innings.
Maraya Adams went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Emily Divelbus, Katelyn Weber and Yessania Vilches also singled for the defending Central Suburban North champs.
"Gabbi has been hitting the ball like crazy every game," Dvorak said. "Even on Saturday (doubleheader sweep at Regina) she was hitting it hard but right at people.
"And Katelyn Weber (sophomore) has been stepping up. She came up from the junior varsity last week and played left field today. She has been a good fill-in."
Sophomore Adrianna Martinez (2-0), who earned the Eagles' first win with a 3-hitter against Evanston, struck out three on Tuesday.
As a freshman, she pitched for the Pritzker College Prep (Chicago charter school).
"Adrianna has a nice change up and she froze a couple of girls a few times," said Taft second-year coach Germaine Padilla. "We're trying not to have her fall in love it with it but to keep it as a secret weapon. She had a nice performance today.
"Sam (Nelson) hit the ball well. She can connect and has had some strong at-bats for us. And we were able to play a little small ball that opened up the game for us, too."