Softball: Warren puts on powerful show at Lake Zurich
Warren's softball squad did not bat around in the third inning.
Everything else, however, was heavily in favor of the Blue Devils on this day.
Winning pitcher Caitlyn Britton went the distance for the win and Warren hit everything in routing host Lake Zurich 25-5 in North Suburban Conference play Wednesday.
At the plate, the sophomore slugger reached base all six times in the five-inning romp. After earning two consecutive bases on balls, she turned on the power and drove 2 homers out, good for 5 RBI. All in all, she knocked in 7 runs.
"Caitlyn has been very solid hitting the ball,'' said Warren coach Jenna Charbonneau.
It was Game 12 for Warren, and those two homers gave Britton 9 long balls in the early going of the softball season.
In the first inning alone, Warren (7-5) received 6 walks, along with a 2-run single from third sacker Erica Jimenez. The big blow of the frame came from first baseman Kayla Nommensen, who produced her first-ever grand slam.
"That felt great,'' Nommensen said. "But my teammates really came though today. Everyone on this team can hit."
Warren had 9 runs before the Bears came to bat, which is when Lake Zurich (5-5) had a 2-run double from sophomore Stephanie Keefe.
But Warren and Britton didn't slow down after the big first frame. Her 3-run blast to center left the park in a heartbeat.
"We have an amazing offensive team,'' Britton said. "We are doing really well. This was a good day for our team."
Leadoff hitter Emily Hudgins added a 2-run double in the second. Warren scored 6 more times. Lake Zurich had a 2-run double from standout Amanda Guercio but still trailed 15-5.
"We just didn't execute well today,'' said Lake Zurich coach Amanda Rodriguez. "It was a tough strike zone today and Warren took advantage of it - and we did not."
Perhaps because the temperature dropped significantly at that point, neither team scored in the third. Britton stiffened on the mound and allowed two more singles the rest of the way.
Warren's offense kept on delivering, though. Second baseman Kelly Beck had the big blow in the fourth with a 2-run double. She finished with 4 hits and 4 RBI. Devon Plata checked in with an RBI single.
The Blue Devils offense fell a double short of a cycle in the final frame.
Shortstop Claire Swedberg, had a pair of singles in the fifth inning as Warren again batted around. Beck drove in 2 more runs with the game's first triple. And Britton again put one over the wall for a 2-run blast.
Jimenez reached base five times, twice by doubling. Warren also drew 10 walks.
Britton walked three and fanned three.