Downers Grove North frosh tames WW South
Dale Ryndak wasn’t aware of the numbers Wheaton Warrenville South’s offense has put up this season, and she didn’t flinch when told.
This freshman doesn’t scare easily.
Downers Grove North’s impressive young pitcher shut out the Tigers offense for five innings, striking out four in a 5-2 win on Monday at Doerhoefer Park.
“This is kind of a normal game for me. I don’t expect anything less from myself,” Ryndak said. “I’ve pitched against older girls since I was 12. I don’t get intimidated.”
WW South (9-3) had scored just over 10 runs per game over its first 11. On the flip side, though, Downers Grove North pitchers Dale and Kendall Ryndak had surrendered just 5 runs through five games coming in.
Dale Ryndak (3-0) scattered 7 hits on Monday, and was at her best under pressure. The biggest spot came in the fourth, when Ryndak worked out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve what was then a 3-0 lead.
“She has a great presence on the mound,” Downers Grove North coach Mark Magro said. “I knew she had the stuff, but she’s got great poise which is good for a freshman.”
WW South, which hadn’t played in five days, looked a little off its game early. The Tigers went down meekly against Ryndak the first three innings and committed two early throwing errors in the field.
In the bottom of the third, singles by Rachel Bradley and Kendall Ryndak sandwiched around a throwing error on Carolyn Nojiri’s bunt attempt opened the floodgates for a 3-run Trojans inning.
“We had a couple days off for spring break,” WW South coach Denise McCance said, “and I thought we looked really flat. We looked a little better as the game went on. She’s definitely the best pitcher we’ve seen. It’s hard to adjust to the speed, especially with the days off.”
Sam Yeager’s single in the fifth scored Kendall Ryndak, making it 4-0. This after Downers Grove North (6-0) had stranded three runners the first two innings against WW South starter Bekah Munday.
“It’s been our problem not only this year but in previous years, is not moving runners around and getting them in,” Magro said. “We did today.”
WW South touched Ryndak for a run in the sixth, Munday smoking her second double of the game to score Kristy Santora. Timmie Rappe, who was 3-for-4 for the Tigers, tripled in Sarah Skurla with two outs in the seventh, but Ryndak struck out Santora to end the game with the tying run on deck.
“I was proud that the kids came back and didn’t let them shut us out,” McCance said. “With the hitting we have, I don’t think anyone should be shutting us out. We just had key people not come through today that we’ve been depending on.”
Dale Ryndak, Bradley and Nojiri all had 2 hits and Kendall Ryndak reached base 4 times for Downers Grove North, which next plays Downers Grove South in a big crosstown matchup Thursday.