Softball: Barrington avenges loss to Hersey behind Cullen’s big day at the plate

Catch this.

Barrington softball receiver Reese Cullen wears No. 7 and on Monday in Arlington Heights, the Ohio State pledge finished the day with 7 home runs for this season.

It happened despite fierce southwest winds which were sending many fly balls back toward the infield making it a difficult day for outfielders.

But Cullen still managed to blast a 3-run homer over the right field fence in the first inning and another 3-run shot, incredibly about 60 feet over the center field fence, which gave the Fillies an 18-1 lead over defending Mid-Suburban East champion Hersey in the top of the fifth inning.

The Huskies (3-3, 0-1) scored four times in the bottom of the inning, including a 3-run homer by Payton Kee, before Barrington (10-1, 1-0) wrapped up its ninth straight victory, 18-5, in the MSL opener.

Cullen finished 3-for 5 with 6 RBI.

"I was looking for an outside pitch because I had been struggling on the inside ones in my prior at-bats," Cullen said of her fifth-inning blast which landed in the parking lot nearly 300 feet from home plate. "I just got that pitch and went with it.

"I was surprised (by the homers) because I was just looking for ground balls and line drives going into the game. But that brought home runs."

"That was incredible (Reese's homers)," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson after winning his 981st career game against 216 losses. "She is just a power hitter. She's worked hard at her craft and she is good at it. That's why she is going to Ohio State."

Also sparking the Fillies' offense were Mimi Cline (4-for-4, 3 RBI, triple), winning pitcher Katie Taraschewsky (5-for-5, RBI and now 10-1 one the mound), Harlow Engel (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Shaylee Hiser (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and Liana Maggio (3-for-4, 2 RBI).

Hersey defeated Barrington 8-5 at the Fields of Dreams last spring

"Those Hersey kids are incredibly talented," Peterson added. "They pushed us around last year and dominated us on our own field. A lot of our veteran kids didn't forget that. Our group was motivated today and played to the best of its ability. I'm really proud of how it ended up."

Hersey ended up two multiple hitters. Reese Izenstark and Gabby Felman each went 3-for-3 with RBI.

"Barrington came up to the plate aggressively with every pitch we were throwing," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "They had an absolute desire to hit. When you put the ball on the bat as many times as they did on a day like this, you are going to have success. And we made mistakes on defense, too, that we have to clean up.

"Certainly we had higher expectations today and we didn't meet them. So no rest for the weary. We've got to get right back out there (Tuesday vs. Hoffman Estates)."