Change at the top works for Willowbrook
Senior second baseman Megan Talan is the new leadoff hitter for the Willowbrook softball team this season.
"At first I was a little nervous just because I didn't know what to expect, but I've gotten used to it," Talan said. "I like it a lot better than batting second."
From that spot on Monday, Talan hopes she contributed to a new beginning for the Warriors.
Her 2-run, two-out double just inside of first base turned out to be the winning hit as Willowbrook used a 4-run fourth inning to rally past Glenbard West 5-3 in Glen Ellyn.
"I actually thought it was foul, but I just ran anyways and it turned out to be fair so I was lucky," Talan said. "We have a lot of games this week so hopefully we'll build off this. Hopefully, it helps us get more confidence."
The right-handed Talan's sharp grounder scored sophomores Samantha Mishlove and Anna Carson, whose 2-run, bases-loaded single from the No. 9 spot tied the game 3-3 for the Warriors (3-6).
Juniors Maddie Campbell and Katie Smith each had 2 hits. Smith's second home run this season tied the game 1-1 in the second.
Winning senior pitcher Veronica Swan (2-3) escaped jams in the fifth and sixth innings and then delivered her only 1-2-3 inning in the seventh. Swan fanned four with no walks.
"I hope this happens to be a turning point for us, knowing that we can do it and get it done," Willowbrook coach Rachel Karos said.
"We just had to play defense and we haven't done that to this point confidently. I'd say a week ago, (this game) doesn't go that way because we just look like a much better team. That's no fault of my girls. It's just getting that confidence to get to that point."
Senior second baseman Katherine Porter continued her torrid hitting for the Hilltoppers (2-6), but they were haunted by 4 errors in the fourth, 2 of which loaded the bases. They led to 4 unearned runs off pitcher Haley Walker (1-4), who struck out seven.
"Haley threw well, no walks. She did well and now it's our defense. Those errors are costly," Glenbard West coach Mary McGrane said. "It's consistency. That's where we've struggled. We've got to play seven (innings). It's a game of 21 outs."
Porter was 3-for-4 with a home run on her first pitch in the first inning and two solid doubles. The Olivet Nazarene recruit is hitting .654 with 8 doubles, 3 triples and 2 homers for a 1.42 slugging percentage and 2.10 OPS.
"She's killing the ball," McGrane said. "She sees the ball well. She has great quality at-bats."
Junior Lexi Gregule and sophomore Alize Aranda each had two hits and juniors Eliza Pasterik and No. 9 hitter Jessica Bongiorno had RBI singles.
In the sixth Bongiorno's fly to center initially brought in another run but the baserunner was ruled out for leaving third base too early. After Aranda singled and sophomore Angie Slager doubled to start the sixth, Smith got a strikeout and two short fly outs to maintain the 2-run cushion.
"That seems to be like the story of the game for us this year. It's us being able to see ball, hit ball when we need it," McGrane said.
"I definitely feel like we played our best defensively," Talan said. "That (ending) was a little scary, but Veronica just felt so much more confident and comfortable and she knew we could get the outs."
The Warriors' only returning starters are Talan, junior shortstop Jiana Funteas and Smith, who has moved from third base to catcher.
Carson, among three sophomore starters Wednesday, began wearing No. 99 with the 2016 junior varsity. She always wore Nos. 1 or 2 for in-house leagues because of her last name being near the front of the alphabet.
Talan considered Carson's game-tying hit on a full count was her "most important hit" so far on varsity.
"Yeah, it felt really good," Carson said. "I wasn't really feeling it at first. The pitches seemed kind of outside but I was like, 'OK. I have to keep my eye on the ball, really choose what ball I'm going to hit.' I just kind of did it."