Softball: Taraschewsky, Barrington keep going against West Chicago
Barrington pitcher Katie Taraschewsky found herself in a jam less than a minute into the Fillies' nonconference softball game on Friday afternoon against visiting West Chicago.
Wildcats leadoff batter Sophia Ptak began the game by belting a 3-2 pitch out over the center-field fence. Brielle Borner then walked and No. 3 hitter Cassiella Koenue singled off the center-field wall, giving the visitors runners on second and third with no outs.
Fillies coach Perry Peterson made a trip to the pitching circle.
"He just said, 'Lock in and keep going,’“ Taraschewsky said.
Did she ever.
The Saint Michael College pledge struck out the next batter, got a fielder's choice and struck out the final batter of the inning to set the tone for a 16-1 Fillies victory.
Taraschewsky (5-0) threw a 4-hitter with 5 strikeouts in the four-inning contest ended by the 15-run rule.
"She did a great job," Peterson said of the senior. "She's able to identify the situation, make an adjustment, and let her defense make the plays.
“That's so Katie Taraschewsky."
"That just gave me more confidence throughout the game," Taraschewsky said about limiting the damage to 1 run in the first inning. And I had the support of my defense all the way."
Taraschewsky, who bats cleanup, also helped support the offense going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and 2 doubles, the last one ending the game and the 12-run bottom of the fourth.
"That's why she bats in the middle of the order," said Peterson, who raised his career record to 1,011-219-1. "She's a clutch performer offensively."
Junior first baseman Harlow Engel, who made a nice grab of Koenue's liner in the third inning, was also clutch, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a RBI.
"She's having a great year," Peterson said. "She's really improved from last year. We're just so excited for her and for the next two years. And then when she goes off to play Division I college softball (at Wichita State).“
Other Fillies (5-0) who hit safely were Nina Brebach, Quincy College commit Madi Van Ryn, Shaylee Hiser, Izzy Zwolinski and Emma Zorzy.
West Chicago coach Mary Kate Dieter liked how her team competed in the first three innings.
"We saw a lot of promising stuff early in the game," said Dieter, whose offense also got singles from Maggie Blickhan and Samantha Mueller. "We lost some talent from last year so we are just getting used to the mix of new kids and trying out some new stuff before we get into conference, and I think we surprised ourselves a little with that beginning. That was a fun start.
"Once a couple of things to started to slip up in the field, I think it got into our heads offensively and then it didn't seem like we were as in control at the plate."
Dieter said the Wildcats (1-4) will work to correct things in practice.
"It's a bit of a bummer," Dieter said. “We'll talk a little about how we need to make sure one error doesn't turn into two. But we're happy to work on it and we love when these teams we are playing apply pressure to us because when we get in a conference (game), we're going to be ready."