Softball: Hubert’s early blast helps Palatine hand Schaumburg its first loss

Jenna Hubert's 2-run homer in the first inning over the center field fence proved to be the game-winner on Tuesday when her Palatine softball team hosted unbeaten Schaumburg in the Mid-Suburban East softball game.

"I didn't know if it was going to win the game but it definitely got us started," the Pirates junior third baseman said about her eighth career home run that came on the first pitch she saw.

It got the Pirates (6-1, 3-0) started and her classmate Mia Woldman finished it with a 4-hitter and 9 strikeouts to improve her record to 5-0 and 2-0 in the East with a 2-1 decision.

"She (Woldman) is a tough player," said Palatine coach Janalee Lyke, who caught for the Saxons in high school. "She has a lot of grit and that's exactly what she showed today."

Schaumburg's offense came to life in the top of the seventh when No. 5 hitter Gianna Tagler led off with a walk. Addison O'Neil followed with a single to left for runners on first and second.

After the next batter popped out bunting, Marissa Raymond sent a drive toward the left center gap but hustling center fielder Quinn Schwartz made a beautiful running catch to her right to save the tying run from scoring.

"Her (Schwartz) catch was amazing," Woldman said.

"I told Marissa that was probably the best ball I've seen her hit all season," said Saxons coach Ellen Abreu. "Our girls showed life at the end of the game which was good. We just showed it a little too late."

"We talked as a group and they stayed composed," Lyke said about her team. "Mia trusted her defense to make the plays and that's what they did. We practiced it and they made it happen."

Schaumburg (7-1, 2-1) tried to make it happen, though, as No. 9 hitter Francheska Manding belted a two-out single to right to get Tagler home for Schaumburg's first run.

However, Woldman got freshman Alana Nieto on a well-hit fly ball to Schwartz in center to end the game.

It was the right-hander Nieto who kept the Saxons in the game with 9 strikeouts and another strong effort in her rookie season in which she has started at 4-1.

Woldman is also off to an excellent start, including a 1-0 win over Fremd.

"I just had to trust my defense," the Loyola pledge said. "I knew they were going to back me up and make plays behind me. I just had to keep throwing like I had been the whole game."

And thanks to Hubert she had the 2-0 lead after the first inning.

Pirates leadoff batter Eliza Piecuch, who went 1-for-1 with a double and a beautiful sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning to get Madelyn Lebo to second base, led off the bottom of the first with a walk setting up Hubert's 2-run homer.

"I kind of knew what she was going to throw me and sat on that first-pitch rise," Hubert said. "We were just playing our game, focusing on ourselves and everything we can control. We were making sure we did what we can do and play our game."

First baseman Sammie Kendrick later had a two-out base hit in the first inning before Nieto struck out the side in the first and second innings.

"Getting the 2-run lead was good reassurance," Woldman added. "It's nice knowing I have those two runs in case anyone gets on base."

Woldman's catcher Kate Cartwright also had a hit in the game along with teammates Kendrick, shortstop Meghan Czyzowicz and Lebo.

"We were just playing our game and doing everything we could to be successful," Lyke said. "We are not worried about stats or anything else. We are just playing our game."

Madison Linnemann and Taylor Dolecki also had hits for Schaumburg which trails Palatine by one game in the MSL West.

"Hopefully we have another chance for a good game with Palatine with a victory on our side," Abreu said.