Softball: Stevenson tops Libertyville to stay unbeaten
It was a great day for the Stevenson softball team Monday afternoon as the Patriots remained undefeated this season with a win over host Libertyville in the North Suburban Conference opener for both teams.
Stevenson (6-0, 1-0) took a 3-0 lead after two innings and never looked back as 2 home runs in the top of the sixth helped carry the Patriots to a 6-0 NSC victory over the Wildcats (0-3, 0-1).
Stevenson senior Ava Potempa was impressive on the mound. She went the distance in throwing a 5-hit shutout, with one of Libertyville's hits coming from a mental error by the Patriots.
The Pats got on the scoreboard in the top of the second when Caileigh Kedzior walked with one out before scoring on an RBI single to right field by No. 8-hitter Andriana Contreras with two outs.
Stevenson added to its lead in the top of the third when Makenna Jacobson's 2-run double off McKenna Weaver drove in senior Alyssa Shimanski, who had walked, and junior Jasmine Lucero, who had singled, for a 3-0 lead.
“They're doing a very good job with playing for each other and this is a very close knit group so I'm proud of them for that,” said first-year Stevenson coach Brandon Simmons. “Ava (Potempa) is slinging it, that's the only thing I can say. She wants to be on the mound, she wants to throw, and she's doing a great job. She rises up, and she's a fierce competitor.”
The Patriots got 3 insurance runs with two outs in the top of the seventh in dramatic fashion. Shimanski drove in Hannah Baker, who had singled, with a 2-run homer over the center-field fence for a 5-0 lead. Then Lucero (2-for-4, 2 runs) hit a solo homer over the right-field fence to account for the final score.
“I'm pretty happy about it (the home run), it's the beginning of the season so hopefully there's a lot more to come,” said Shimanski. “She (Lucero) works so hard, she's in the gym all of the time. She's hitting before and after games, before and after practice so she hits any time she can.”
Libertyville's Maddy Kleemann (3-for-3) doubled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. But she was thrown out at home plate trying to score on a single by Bella Zelenka.
“We're a work in progress, there are a lot of things we can do better, but I thought our pitcher McKenna was outstanding,” said Libertyville coach Darwin Townsend, whose team was outhit 6-5 overall. “It's a good group of kids, they work hard, and they're going to get way better.”