Meline navigates Vernon Hills to another win
Miss No-No had an “Oh, no” moment Thursday afternoon.
Vernon Hills junior ace Megan Meline, a day after no-hitting Grant’s softball team, suddenly stopped warming up in a bullpen before facing host Libertyville. She realized she had failed to inform her mother, Sara, of a venue change.
The North Suburban Conference crossover had to be played at Libertyville because of unplayable field conditions at VH.
Meline dashed to the Cougars’ dugout, grabbed her cell phone and frantically punched a text message to her mother: “Game at LHS! Sorry!”
Too late.
Mom Meline had already arrived at VHHS, hoping to watch her daughter attempt to become a softball version of Johnny Vander Meer (Major League Baseball’s Mr. Consecutive No-Hitters).
Sara Meline motored to LHS.
Megan Meline didn’t allow a hit against Libertyville until the … fourth inning, a single by Toni Kintzel. The right-hander finished with a 4-hitter in a 9-0 victory, fanning 12 and walking only 1. She also clubbed a homer with her backup bat – her first big fly of the spring – in the fifth inning, after doubling off the left-field fence to drive in the game’s third run in the Cougars’ 3-run second inning.
Meline had shattered her top stick (a composite bat) the day before, in the gem vs. Grant. Lesson learned: using a composite bat, in sub-40 temperatures is, well, a no-no.
“She hit that homer a mile – really cool,” VH coach Steve Korney said after his club improved to 8-6. “We had a lot of good at-bats today, and we played pretty good defense. It was encouraging to see.”
The theme of the day was a “c” word: cancer. Thursday’s contest was both teams’ benefit game, with each squad hoping to raise $1,000 for the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Vernon Hills’ players wore pink socks; Libertyville’s Wildcats donned orange “Peace Out Cancer” T-Shirts.
A pair of cancer survivors — Korney’s mother, Marilyn, and his grandmother, Trudy Unterfenger — tossed ceremonial pitches before the game. Afterward, players from both teams trotted to the outfield and released balloons that had been tied to the fence, symbolizing researchers’ rise to the challenge of striking out cancer.
“Ninety-four people (in Illinois) died from cancer in the time it took for us to play today’s game,” Steve Korney, holding a microphone, said to players and spectators after the game. “But there’s hope. Research is helping cancer patients live longer.”
Libertyville coach Mary Tiegs’ father, Al, lost a five-year battle with cancer 18 months ago. Al Tiegs was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) and a hero to his daughter.
“My dad … he was such a hard worker,” Mary said before Thursday’s first pitch.
VH scored at least a run in each of the first five innings at Libertyville. The Cougars’ leadoff batter, sophomore center fielder Caitlin Sernett, went 4-for-4 and drove in 2 runs. Teammate Rebecca Feld doubled in the sixth inning after lifting a 2-run single to shallow center in the fourth.
Junior first baseman Anya Mollenhauer and junior shortstop Michelle Harris knocked in a run apiece. Mollenhauer also played stellar defense, deftly scooping a sizzling short-hopper near the bag in the fourth inning and snaring Haley Hoeksel’s screaming line drive for the third out in the fifth.
“My infield has played so well behind me,” said Meline (7-3), who also praised the play of junior catcher Sami Freibrun. “That no-hitter I threw … our defense had a lot to do with that, helped out a lot.”
Meline just missed achieving perfection against Grant on Wednesday. Only one Bulldog (hit by pitch) reached base in 7 innings.
Libertyville (1-10) was shorthanded Thursday. Top pitchers Andie Grant and Calley Kaluzny sat out with injuries.
“Vernon Hills always has consistent hitters, especially at the top of the order,” Tiegs said. “And Steve does a nice job with his young kids (4 sophomores started for VH).
“We’re off to a slow start, but we have a lot of talent. We’re hoping to take off soon and then get on a roll. Our players don’t give up, don’t get down on themselves.”