Bulldogs catch Geneva Vikings, handing them first conference loss
It's like choosing a favorite child. You can't do it. You love them equally.
Only Katie Luetkens did just that.
Luetkens made two highlight-reel plays in the sixth inning of Batavia's 4-1 error-free win over Geneva, two plays that kept the Vikings from tying the game or possibly going ahead.
On the first, the junior center fielder threw a perfect strike to Kelly Coleman, who turned and fired to catcher Emily Dorjath to gun down a runner at the plate.
The second play came on the very next batter. Luetkens raced back in deep center and made a tumbling grab of a blast by Melissa Barber, ending the inning and leaving the potential tying runs on base.
With two web gems like those, how can you pick a favorite?
"They were both extremely exciting to do but I think the catch was a little on top," Luetkens said. "As soon as it was hit I knew it was going to be a tough play but I knew if I gave 110 percent that that ball could end up in my glove."
Those plays are just what coach Leon Pedraza has been stressing to his team and a big reason Batavia (6-6, 3-1) handed Geneva (3-6, 2-1) its first conference loss.
"Absolutely fantastic," Pedraza said. "We've been talking and talking and harping that defense is going to win these games. Yes, we won by three runs but it wasn't the bats that won this ballgame. Not by any means. It was the gloves."
Geneva scored its only run in the second inning. Dori Rogers singled, stole second and scored on a single to right by Stacey Cladis.
That ended up being all Brooke Nelson allowed. Geneva's only other hits came in the sixth inning as Nelson finished her complete game with three strikeouts while allowing 4 hits and 2 walks.
Nelson certainly appreciated the defensive work, both Luetkens' catch and the relay that took an RBI away from Deirdre Phalon's double to the gap in right center.
"It would have been a totally different if they weren't behind me," Nelson said. "We've been working on our relays a lot. That turned out good."
Batavia strung together 5 singles to score 3 runs in the second. Christine Lynam, Mackenzie Astling, Alexa Schofield, Kelly Coleman and Katie Coleman all singled.
Schofield went 3-for-3 and drove in Dorjath with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
"We tell the girls, when it gets to Western Sun play, the games are tight," Pedraza said. "We've got to scratch and claw for every hit, every run, every at-bat. That's what the girls did. They really put together a couple hits and maintained their aggressiveness."
Kristyn Ruitenberg (2-4) took the loss, striking out three and walking just one.
"They won because they played well," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "All the way around they outdid us today. We knew they had some good hitters in their lineup.
"We had some at-bats where we didn't get quality swings. We got tied up on pitches here or there. The sixth inning we hit the ball well, they just made a couple plays to get out of the inning."
Thursday's result further bunches up the Western Sun race. Geneva was the last unbeaten, and now five teams - the Vikings, Batavia, Yorkville, Rochelle and Kaneland - all have 1 conference loss.
"It's a little more up in the air this year," Dierks said.