Softball: Prospect’s Maresco handcuffs Hersey
After setting her season-high for strikeouts with 16 on Tuesday, Prospect's Megan Maresco didn't hesitate one second when asked what was the big key for her pitching prowess at Hersey.
"My rise ball for sure," said the senior right hander. "That was my go-to."
And her Knights were on-the-go with their bats early, giving Maresco a quick lead that proved to be plenty as she recorded a 3-0 shutout in the Mid-Suburban West softball game in Arlington Heights.
Just last week, the Knights scored 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to edge the Huskies, 8-7, in Mt. Prospect.
"It was nice not having to come from behind this time," said Prospect coach Krsytina Mackowiak. "Especially being the away team."
The modest Maresco said it was her team that made it all possible.
"This was a team effort," said the junior right-hander who struck out a career-high 19 in her varsity debut as a freshman against St. Viator. "My teammates really did great. And getting an early lead like that is so important for a pitcher."
The lead actually came before Prospect (9-8, 3-4) even made an out.
Sophomore Taryn Sorenson led off the game with a triple off the right field fence and freshman Charlotte Machel followed with a sharp single to left for a quick 1-0 lead for the visitors.
The Knights added two more runs in the second inning.
Junior Amalia Andrews singled to right with one out and went to second on senior Gianna Catanzano's sacrifice bunt.
Andrews went to third on Sorenson's single to left and came home on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
Machel came through again with a two-out RBI single to the exact same spot between the third baseman and shortstop for the 3-0 cushion.
"I'm really proud of the way we came out with the bats," Mackowiak said. "We had really good approaches at the plate. And there was a solid sacrifice bunt from Gianna, too, I told the girls those are the little things that make a difference in close games like this."
Catanzano also delivered behind the plate, calling the game for Maresco and picking off a runner in the fifth inning. The senior receiver threw a strike to first baseman Marchialette, who then fired to four-year starter Liz Aicher at shortstop who made the tag on the sliding runner at second base.
"Gianna was calling the pitches and doing a great job," Maresco added.
Only six Hersey batters reached base. Gianna Baiker in the first inning (infield single), Bryce McGuinn in the second (single to right), Gabby Felman (single to left) and Abby Stonequist (walk) in the third, Angela Colletti (single to left) in the fifth and Cici Steiner (walk) in the seventh.
"You've got to find a way to put the ball in play," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "We just didn't have the offense going today. There were times where we had a good bat on the ball but they made some good defensive plays. They came out to play. I think we did, too. We just didn't capitalize on the opportunities we had."
Hersey pitcher Danielle Jensen kept the Huskies (7-8, 2-5) in the game, striking out nine and walking only one.
Leading the Knights' offense were Sorensen (2-for-4, triple), Machel (2-for-4), freshman Jackie Mercado (2-for-3, walk) and Andrews (2-for-3).
Catanzano also had a hit in addition to her sacrifice bunt and Marchialette singled in the third.
Prospect right fielder Julia Nay robbed Baker (sixth inning) and McGuinn (fourth inning) of extra bases with splendid running catches while racing toward right center.
"Julia made some great defense plays for us," Mackowiak said.