Hedstrom’s headstrong effort powers Palatine
Amy Mitchell, a 2006 graduate, is the strikeout queen for the Palatine softball program.
On Wednesday, Mitchell was in the dugout for the second-best strikeout performance — behind her own — in school history.
Now an assistant coach for the Pirates, Mitchell watched junior Megan Hedstrom strike out the side five times and finish with a career-high 18 strikeouts and 2-hitter in a 9-2 victory over visiting Mundelein.
Coincidentally, it was also in early April of 2006 against Mundelein when Mitchell recorded her school record of 21 strikeouts.
Hedstrom wasn’t exactly thrilled with her prior performance in a 6-5 loss to Grant on Saturday.
“I felt I had to pick it up from that game,” she said. “It wasn’t good. I just wasn’t ‘on.’ ”
Hedstrom was also “on” at the plate Wednesday, going 2-for-4 as did teammates Lauren Logan (RBI double), Tori Walzak (2-for-4, double) and Courtney English (RBI).
Grace Rohewasser, Kaileigh Moertl and Kristen Rossi also had hits for the Pirates (6-4).
“I appreciate what Megan did for us,” said a smiling Walzak, who didn’t have much work at shortstop. “She made it easy on all of us.”
And Pirates coach Jeff Manz believes Hedstrom (4-3) wasn’t even at her best.
“She can be so much better,” said the veteran coach. “She was hitting her spots maybe 50 percent of the time. We know her potential is unlimited. We’ve talked to her about that. Megan is getting a lot mentally stronger and that’s what we need from her.”
After giving up a leadoff walk to junior Chloe Peterson, Hedstrom struck out the next nine batters before hitting the first batter (Maria DeVito) of the fourth inning.
A walk to Mustangs pitcher Erin Kennelly, an error and a two-out, 2-run single by freshman Hannah Bulgart provided Mundelein its only 2 runs.
“What I am so proud of Megan for is the way she was able to come back after that bad inning and settle down to the way she started the game,” Manz said. “And she hit the ball well. Everyone was doing well putting the ball in play and being aggressive at the plate.”
Mundelein’s only other hit was a two-out single by Peterson in the seventh.
“I was happy with a few of our at-bats,” said Mundelein first-year coach Brett Wilhelm, whose young team with only one senior on the roster is 2-5. “But we aren’t going to win by striking out 18 times and making 4 or 5 errors.
“Palatine is a great team and we’ve got to find a way to start rolling because losing is not fun.”
Logan, who was an all-area first baseman as a sophomore, caught Hedstrom’s gem.
“Lauren did a great job behind the plate,” Manz added. “She caught three or foul tips for strikeouts, including the last one of the game. She is doing a nice job settling in behind the plate.”