Home runs power Glenbard East past Streamwood

It was like a flash of lightning and clap of thunder.

Fortunately for the Glenbard East softball team, it was the difference in the Rams' 10-8 victory over host Streamwood on Tuesday.

Freshman Tori Tyler stepped to the plate in the top of the sixth inning and promptly hammered a 3-1 pitch over the left-center field fence, right into the auxiliary soccer bleachers.

Three batters later and with a runner on second, sophomore pinch hitter Rosie Kotch went yard herself, crushing the ball over the left field fence, scoring Ana Mahay ahead of her, who had doubled earlier.

The power display was even more impressive considering the wind was blowing in, and it gave the Rams a 9-6 lead - and, as it turned out, just enough runs to win their fourth game in a row and improve to 6-8 overall and 4-3 in the Upstate Eight.

"I'm just happy that the energy stays through the entire game," said East coach Nikki Simpson, "in that everyone is ready to play no matter when they come in. When they are called upon, they do what they need to do.

"Rosie has been overdue," Simpson said with a laugh. "We've been waiting for that big hit from her, and I think she just felt the energy off Tori, and I think that carried us through and we had the momentum."

Tyler was even better, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored, adding a single and 2 doubles to her home run. She also pitched the last 3 innings, giving up 2 runs (both earned) and 3 hits to pick up the victory. She struck out 3, the last two to end the game and squelch a potential Streamwood rally.

"Tori is definitely an all-around player," Simpson said. "You put her anywhere and she plays. She just has a love for the game. She comes up clutch for her teammates, and I think she has the will and the want to compete. That's important when you're a freshman."

Tyler came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth, after Streamwood tied the game 6-6 on a run-scoring single by Becky Roncone. Tyler proceeded to strike out Andrea Rodriguez looking, retire Cayla Hawkins on a sacrifice bunt, then induce pinch hitter Celena Feliciano to pop out to shortstop Doni Brooke Ross.

After the eventful top of the sixth inning, Tyler weakened a bit in the bottom half, giving up a 2-run double to Streamwood's Jessica Daley, driving in Emily Unthank and Rebecca Daley to bring the Sabres to within 9-8.

But Tyler helped her cause by doubling in Marissa West in the top of the seventh to set the final score. In the bottom half, she gave up a single to Hawkins with one out, then struck out Taylor Williams and Nijal Desai to the end the game.

"I know that my infielders back me up and I so do my outfielders," Tyler said of the key to her composure with the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh. "It was a really good win. We've been on a winning streak and I'm really happy about it."

Also doing damage for the Rams was center fielder Kailey Lyons, who went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. She also walked and reached on an error. Ross added 3 singles and a run scored.

Across the diamond, it was a tough-luck loss for Streamwood, which fell to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in the Upstate Eight. Jessica Daley went 3-for-4 with a run scored and 4 RBI, including a pair of doubles. She also pitched 5⅔ innings, giving up 11 hits and 7 runs, all earned.

"I think it was a winnable game, so it was a tough loss for us," Daley said. "We should have done a lot better and come through the hitting part. And we have to stop the errors."

Another major contributor was Roncone, who had 2 singles in addition to her double and 2 RBI. Unthank went 1-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

But it was a case of what might have been for first-year Streamwood coach Kelly Wasilewski, especially considering the tying run was at the plate twice in the bottom of the seventh. Hawkins stole second and third base after she singled but was stranded at third to end the contest.

"We just didn't get the hits we needed; they just didn't come at the right times," Wasilewski said, adding that the key sequence was the top of the sixth and East's 2 home runs.

"It's always tough, especially on a day like today when the wind is blowing in, you're not expecting that. Pitching, we need to hit our spots. We can't throw it down the ball down the middle of the plate."