Softball: Buffalo Grove’s Haber earns first varsity win, defeating Rolling Meadows

Buffalo Grove's Madeline Haber started Tuesday's Mid-Suburban League crossover softball game in right field.

She was only there for five batters.

When host Rolling Meadow loaded the bases with three walks and then scored a run on an RBI walk to Nell Osterhues, Buffalo Grove coach Martha Kelly called upon her right fielder to take over in the pitcher's circle.

Kelly's move was perfect as Haber went on to give up only 4 hits in her first varsity win, a 10-3 decision.

“Madeline did amazing,” said Bison standout catcher Erin Ryan, a Northwestern recruit who already has three home runs this season and went 1-for -2 on Tuesday with 2 runs scored. “She came to the mound in a tough situation and I think she gave us a lot of momentum and confidence so that we could really get the bats going.”

Eight Bison hit safely, including 2-for-4 performances from leadoff batter Sammi Wolverton, No. 2 hitter Annie Sadowski and No. 8 hitter Natalie Whitson.

Haber also excelled at the plate, belting a center-field double in the fourth inning, which led to Buffalo Grove getting a 4-3 lead and then a big sacrifice RBI fly to center in the Bison's big 6-run fifth inning, which decided the game.

“Madeline was fantastic,” said Kelly, whose team improved to 1-2. “I thought she pitched well the whole game. She mixed up pitchers and got some girls looking. She also pitched another great one on Monday (a 6-5 loss to Bartlett) and gave up only 1 earned run. She is off to a good start and it was nice to see her bat come alive. She also contributed to our first double play of the season.”

Rolling Meadows coach Tony Wolanski also felt Haber was a major factor.

“Credit their pitcher,” he said. “She did a great job coming in there and keeping us off balance with the changeup. I think we were bothered by it and we just had too many strikeouts looking.”

Buffalo Grove's big fifth inning began when Ryan's one-out swinging bunt down third base line resulted in an infield hit.

The Bison proceeded to have five consecutive batters reach base, including an RBI single to center by Kim and a 2-run single by Emaline Sara. Wolverton also had a double to left and Sadowski an RBI single to center. Leah Hampton also had a hit in the inning and Natalie Whitson reached on an error.

“We made a couple of mistakes that we just have to learn from and get better,” Wolanski said. “We've got to play more softball and get into a rhythm.”

“This was the first start for Iris (Jordan). She doesn't have her stamina yet coming off a concussion (suffered in the state girls basketball finals in Normal). We had an interesting preseason. It was great that our girls basketball team going downstate. We have four basketball players who are adjusting and we have kids coming back from spring break vacation so we are kind of finding ourselves.

“I think we're going to be better and our kids are doing well with their effort and attitude. We've just got to find a way to cut back on the mistakes. We are kind of better than our 0-3 start but we've got work to do. But give Buffalo Grove credit. It's 4-3 and then they get 6 runs. That can't happen.”

Then the power-hitting Ryan happened to be intentionally walked in her first two at-bats on Tuesday after also getting intentional passes in her last two at-bats on Monday to give her four intentional walks in a row. Prior to that, she had hit three straight homers.

“This (win) gives us a lot of confidence for the upcoming (MSL) division games that we can get it done,” Ryan said. “Our bats really came alive today, which was great to see.”

And after coming in with a 1-0 deficit, one out and the bases loaded, Haber had plenty of confidence the rest of the game.

“I was just thinking to get that second out and then it would be easier to get the third,” said Haber, who did exactly that with a 4-2 fielder's choice and then a groundout to second baseman Sadowski.