Lisle hits the target, defeats Coal City

It took a few innings, but Lisle finally opened the floodgates Tuesday.

The drought against Coal City is over, too.

Hitless the first time through the lineup, the Lions sent 11 batters to the plate in a 7-run fourth and went on to an 8-3 win over the defending Class 2A champion at Community Park.

“Once we get through the lineup once and we’ve all seen her it’s a lot easier for us to see where she’s pitching us,” said Lisle’s Melanie Early, who went 3-for-3 and started the fourth-inning rally. “We talk to each other and know where she’s going with everyone else.”

It’s Lisle’s second win over a recent nemesis in as many days. The Lions (7-0, 2-0 Interstate Eight Conference) pounded the Coalers (6-4, 0-2) in Coal City 12-1 on Monday. Prior to that, Coal City beat Lisle three times in 2009 and twice more in 2010, Lisle scoring a total of 1 run in those games against ex-Coalers ace Kirsten Verdun, now a freshman at DePaul.

“That was my one goal this year. It’s my senior year. I wanted to beat Coal City,” Lisle winning pitcher Bekka Houda said.

“Even though they have lost girls, it’s still beating the team with the name,” Early said. “They have the target on their back. Now we do, too, since we beat them.”

Trailing 2-0 after three innings, Early doubled to start the fourth on a fly ball the Coal City right fielder turned the wrong way on. Mackenzie Buchelt singled, and one out later Stephanie Loconsole came back from down 0-2 in the count to work a walk. The next four Lions singled, Stephanie Petkovsek’s basehit under the shortstop’s glove bringing in the go-ahead runs.

Early and Buchelt singles made it 7-2.

“They hit the ball good, we made a couple mistakes in the field and it snowballed,” Coal City coach Allan Wills said.

Coming off a 15-strikeout 2-hitter on Monday, Houda (5-0) once again held down a potent Coalers lineup. She surrendered Molly Manietta’s 2-run homer in the third inning and another run in the seventh but also stranded 7 baserunners. Houda struck out nine.

“(Catcher) Grace (Riley) called a really good game, and I moved it around on them a lot,” Houda said. “Even that home run, the pitch moved — they’re just a really good hitting team. You could tell what different batters’ weaknesses are, and I picked at those.”

Northern Illinois recruit Bryanna Phelan, one of six returning starters for Coal City, went 2-for-2, reached base four times and stole four bases. The Coalers had been averaging over 8 runs a game in their six wins.

“Lisle’s pitcher threw good and kept us off-balance both days,” Wills said. “We had opportunities today; we just couldn’t get the big hit.”

Lisle freshman leadoff hitter Summer Stitt went 2-for-3 with a double and reached base three times. A tough schedule continues Thursday at undefeated Peotone.

“This is our toughest stretch,” Lisle coach Jen Pomatto said. “We have a tough April, and I’m glad for that. We’re really seeing what we’re made of.”