Softball: Walters, St. Charles North silence St. Charles East
St. Charles North pitcher Natalie Walters managed to do something on Friday no other pitcher has done all season and that is shut out rival St. Charles East.
Walters was brilliant in firing a complete game 3-hitter to lead the North Stars to a 2-0 win in Upstate Eight River Division action.
The Saints (20-4, 9-3) came into the game averaging just under 10 runs and had defeated the North Stars (11-7, 5-5) just two weeks ago 10-8.
Walters brushed all that aside as she struck out eight and walked just one batter. She did not start the first game against Saints, but pitched in relief.
"One thing I learned from that game is you have to hit your spots," Walters said. "If you make mistakes against them they will take advantage every time. Today everything was working for me. I was getting real good spin on my rise ball and moving my pitches all around. (Assistant) coach Thjis (Dennison) calls all the pitches and he did a great job having me mix it up."
Walters didn't allow a runner past second base until the seventh inning when things got very tense. Walters issued her first and only walk of the game with one out.
The North Stars' defense had been flawless up to that point, but a pair of errors put runners on second and third base with two outs. However, Walters struck out the final batter to nail down the win.
"It got a little nervous there," Walters said. "I had full faith we would pull through. Our whole team just had a lot more hype this time. The last time we played them we were going through some issues, but we have grown a lot since then."
Walters helped herself at the plate with a triple to lead off the second inning. She came home with the North Stars' first run on a single by Jill Waslawski.
With two outs in the third inning Jordyn Wolfe roped an opposite field shot down the left field line and raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homer for the North Stars' second run.
"I think we are just in a lot better place as a team right now," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "You have to be playing your best to have a chance to beat them and today we did all the things we needed to do. We got some quality at bats, played good defense, and Natalie was dealing. I think all the things we have been through have made us mentally tougher and allowed us to buckle down there at the end to get the win."
Delaney Devor was the tough-luck losing pitcher for the Saints. She allowed only 4 hits.
"Their pitcher threw a good game," East coach Jared Gutesha said. "She was throwing it up in the zone and getting us to chase. We were trying to adjust to that. It was a good game all around. Exciting at the end, but we just couldn't pull it out. I thought Delaney pitched very well moving the ball around."