Geneva rolls in regional opener
What can you say about a game that one team scores four runs before the other gets an out?
And that team scores 18 runs in the first inning?
And takes outs on purpose to end innings?
And strikes out 11 of the opponent’s 16 batters?
Not much to say, other than Geneva’s softball team defeated Proviso West 29-0 Monday in a play-in game of the Class 4A Proviso West regional in a matchup that wasn’t much fun for either team.
With a No. 9 seed, the Vikings (25-10) advance to play No. 8 Glenbard West (23-8) in the regional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A No. 21 seed, Proviso West would have been better served getting a more traditional play-in game against a team seeded something like No. 17 than playing a team clearly more talented like the Vikings.
Elena Wright went 4-for-5 with 3 doubles and 6 RBI, just one of the Geneva hitters with a big day. Even as the Vikings pounded hit after hit their celebrations were understated as they showed sportsmanship to their overmatched opponent.
“The innings tended to drag on a little bit but it was still important to make sure you were sticking to mechanics and swinging through it,” said Wright, who upped her team-leading RBI total to 32. “You’ve got to keep focusing through the entire game.
“Those situations are difficult when the pitcher is struggling a little. Personally I like to hit it but you can’t be swinging at everything. I think everyone followed that as well and stick to fundamentals and don’t overdo anything. It’s important to stay respectful because they deserve it as much as we do.”
Geneva coach Greg Dierks agreed with his junior shortstop.
“I’ve been on the other end and it’s hard,” Dierks said of his first few years at Geneva. “She (Proviso West’s coach) did what she needed to do, kept encouraging them. I was glad to see them catch a few flyballs at the end.”
Dierks was especially kind in his approach. He removed starter Kelly McCaffrey after 2 innings after McCaffrey struck out five of the six hitters she faced. Haley Orwig pitched the final 3 innings and allowed 1 hit while striking out seven.
Dierks also had his baserunners leave early for automatic outs that ended the innings when Geneva was hitting.
If it wasn’t obvious from watching the teams warm up before the game what would happen, it was clear in the bottom of the first when Geneva sent 21 batters to the plate. Fourteen had hits — including 2 each for Bridget Weitzel, Wright, Melissa Barber and Julie Orwig — 5 walked and 18 scored as Proviso West’s starter labored through a 69-pitch inning.
“I was glad to see we hit the ball hard,” Dierks said. “It wasn’t just walks and errors. If that’s the game where you can get your first-game jitters out of the way, we’ll take the win.”
Geneva scored 6 runs in the second, 2 in the third and 3 in the fourth as Dierks got all his reserves plenty of at-bats.
“It was nice to have a game like this to kind of get all the jitters out,” Wright said. “We’re really preparing for Wednesday because we know they (Glenbard West) are a good team and what they will bring to the table. It’s important for us to stay mentally strong.”
Dierks said he scouted Glenbard West a couple times and knows the Vikings have their hands full as they try to repeat last year’s impressive upset-filled run over Glenbard North and Lake Park to a regional title.
“I think it’s a pretty evenly matched game,” Dierks said. “They are seeded ahead of us for a reason. They had a good conference season. They have kept the score down against some good teams. We’re going to have to work hard. They seem to have a nice balance. I didn’t see any weaknesses from the games I was at. A win there would really complete the season well for us but we know we’re going to have to play well.”