Softball: Buffalo Grove continues surge with win over St. Viator
After a 1-6 start, Buffalo Grove's softball team has found its groove.
"I feel we're really coming together as a team now," said first baseman Erin Ryan, one of five sophomores in coach Martha Kelly's starting lineup on Tuesday along with two freshmen, a junior and a senior. "We're playing for each other instead of individually. And we're bouncing (back) from our mistakes."
There weren't very many Bison mistakes in Tuesday's six-inning 13-1 win over visiting St. Viator which ended when No. 9 hitter, sophomore Natalie Whitson, lined a bases-loaded triple to right center with no outs to end the game by the 10-rule.
The Bison (6-8) have now won five of their last seven games.
"We are on a streak," added sophomore right fielder Sammi Wolverton, who had the catch of the game. "I think our team has connected and we've learned how to work together. It's been amazing. I love all my teammates."
Kelly loves her team's defense that has stood out all season.
"And you saw it again today," Kelly said. "Paige Veller (senior) had a great play at shortstop. Emaline Sara (freshman) had some good catches at second base. Hayley Cohen (sophomore catcher) threw out a runner trying to steal second in the first inning (she is now 3-for-3 throwing out runners stealing). And Sammi Wolverton's catch in right field."
Wolverton's catch came on the second batter in the sixth inning and a runner on first base. She robbed Kayli Burke with a terrific diving catch to her left.
"I saw it get hit in the air and knew right away I was going to truck and make that catch." Wolverton said. "I love those plays. They're my favorite part of the game."
"Our defense has been solid all season with Natalie Whitson setting the tone in our second game when she laid out for a diving catch in center field at Dundee-Crown," Kelly added. "And it turned into a triple play and then everyone else was like 'if she can do it, we all can do it.' Defense is always helpful. But the big thing is that now our bats are coming around."
Ryan got the bats rolling when she crushed a 240-foot homer over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead. It was her second homer in two days, including her 3-for-4 game (homer, double, single and walk, 4 RBI) in a 13-3 win against Rolling Meadows on Monday. Ryan went 2-for-4 on Tuesday (homer, double) for 4 RBI. She now has 7 homers for the season and nine for her career.
Veller (2-for-2, 2 walks) reached base in all four of her at-bats while Lily Kim was 2-for-3 with a pair of infield singles and a stolen base.
Wolverton also had one of the Bison's 9 hits that helped lead to sophomore pitcher Brooklyn Edler's second win of the season.
"We're very fortunate to have three different pitchers who we can go to," Kelly added. "Today was Brooklyn's day and she did fantastic. We are a young group so it is very exciting."
Leading the offense for the Lions (8-15) were right fielder Mia Lund (2-for-2, sacrifice bunt) and starting pitcher Alexis Horn (2-for-3) while shortstop Maggie Ratzki and designated player Anastasia Papaioannou also had hits.
"The last couple of weeks we were in a hitting slump but we've started to come out of it," said Lions coach John Scotillo. "We had 11 hits at Immaculate Conception on Monday and today we had a few more.
"But we've had to use bullpen games (starter Carley Heiden is injured) because we've had some injuries. But I love them (pitchers) stepping up like that and taking one for the team. We had a center fielder and a first baseman pitch today and then our last pitcher was Isabella DiMarco, who was our most effective one (three scoreless innings until the sixth).
"I was really happy with her. She doesn't get a chance to throw a lot and she had a nice stretch retiring eight out of 10 batters. I was really happy to see that."