Softball: South Elgin doubles up Larkin, stays perfect in Upstate Eight
South Elgin has quietly been putting together an outstanding softball season. The Storm won their 13th straight game with an 8-4 victory Tuesday against Larkin on Elgin’s West Side.
Led by 7 seniors, the Storm is 23-4 overall and 16-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference.
Storm coach Brad Reynard cited the senior battery of pitcher Anna Kiel and catcher Chloe Ricard as leading the way for the Storm. Second pitcher Jenna Sheehan, who started Tuesday, has also contributed.
The Storm will honor Kiel, Ricard, Lexi Genz, Amber Gnutek, Adriana Jimenez, Grace Krabbe, and Addison Tinarella when they host Glenbard South Thursday on senior night.
A couple of seniors were in the spotlight Tuesday. Kiel broke the school record with her 150th hit in the seventh inning. Her teammates held up a banner in honor of the achievement. Kiel also holds the school records for doubles and strikeouts.
One batter after Kiel’s hit, Jimenez, who got the start behind the plate, provided some much-needed insurance by depositing a 2-run homer over the right-field fence.
Kiel wasn’t even supposed to play Tuesday. But when Sheehan’s pitch count began to rise, Kiel entered the circle to start the fifth inning. She pitched 3 scoreless innings for the save. She set the hits record with a grounder up the middle leading off the seventh.
“We were hoping she’d [get the hit record] on Thursday which is our senior day, but that’s how things work out,” said Reynard.
“I didn’t even know,” Kiel said. “They surprised me. I had no clue.”
The Storm jumped ahead 5-1 Tuesday, with Kaidence Rumachik providing a pair of run-scoring doubles.
Ali Herrick kept the Royals in it with a 3-run shot to right in the third, but Sheehan and Kiel restored order after that.
An RBI double by Sheehan and Jimenez’s shot provided some insurance, which came in handy when the Royals brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh. Larkin loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batter, and an error, but Kiel reared back and got 2 strikeouts to end it.
“Just overcoming adversity is a feather in their cap,” Reynard said. “It wasn’t pretty at times, but our girls did enough to go ahead and win. It’s always a game with them here. We’ve got to bring it from here on out.”
Kiel said picking each other up is nothing new for the Storm citing team chemistry as the key to the Storm’s success this year.
“When everyone’s on I feel like everyone really is on,” she said. “Everyone is supporting everyone. The team dynamic is working really well.”