Softball: Fremd's youngsters produce win over Hersey
Fremd's youth movement got off to strong start in Mid-Suburban League softball play on Monday.
The Vikings, who feature three freshmen, a sophomore and four juniors in the starting lineup, won 10-1 over Hersey, the defending MSL East champ which lost for the first time in seven games.
Fremd (3-2, 1-0) had two seniors in the lineup.
One was winning pitcher Hailey Hazlett (1-2) and the other center fielder Gianna Arnieri, who crushed a 3-run homer over the right field fence to give the Vikings their 10-1 lead in the top of the seventh.
Hazlett threw a 5-hitter with 5 strikeouts.
"They (Hersey) are hard hitters but I believed in my fielders," said Hazlett, who plans to study elementary education at Illinois State. "I was not scared to miss some spots because I knew they would pick me up."
Picking up each other is the Vikings' motto.
"We are always playing for each other," said Vikings junior McKenna Schneider who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. "That's the big thing this season.
"Every game we play for each other. Even when I made an out, everyone in the dugout was there patting me on the back."
"McKenna kind of said it best," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner. "They play for each other and believe in each other and it's remarkable to see."
Teschner got to see eight of his players reach base at least once and six get at least one hit.
Leading the way were freshman catcher Elaina Kraus (3-for-4, RBI), junior left fielder Kelsey Brauer (3-for-4, 2 RBI), junior first baseman Reagan Goluch (2-for-4) and Schneider.
Freshmen Kalyn McCarthy and Ava Jordan, the Vikes' No. 1 and 2 hitters in the order, reached base a combined five times and both scored in the first inning after walks.
Sophomore Cali DiVito reached on an error and used some heads-up base running to score on an error for a 4-0 lead in the second inning.
"We've got a very talented team and we knew we were going up against the defending MSL East champs who had a lot of talent back," Teschner added. "We knew it was going to take a lot of focus more than anything. We have the skills to play with anyone. It's just a matter of whether we can stay locked in mentally and today was that day."
The Vikes were robbed a couple of times by the glove of Hersey center fielder Makayla Tsagalis.
The senior made two great catches to take hits away from Goluch, one on a diving backhanded catch in the first inning.
Tsalagis also threw a perfect strike to catcher Lauren Steininger who made the successful tag on the runner in the fifth inning. And she doubled up a runner in the third inning with a great throw to first baseman Sarah Bailitz.
"Makayla made a couple of fantastic plays," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman, of the South Dakota recruit. "She was kind of a bright moment but we've got to play seven innings and we just didn't do that.
"Fremd came out ready to go and made a lot of big plays. They got it done, especially with their bats."
Huskies pitcher Brianna Luciano (3-1), Tsagalis, Bailitz, Steininger and Kylie Makuh had the hits for Hersey (6-1, 0-1).
"It was a disappointing start to the conference," Freeman said. "We wanted to come out stronger and show up a little better. We really didn't get our bats going which didn't help."