St. Charles North avenges its only UEC loss
With 2 losses in 26 games this season, it isn't often St. Charles North gets a chance at revenge.
But that's the situation the North Stars found themselves in Wednesday, and they wasted little time getting even.
The North Stars scored 3 runs in the second inning and 2 more in the third on their way to a 12-4 victory over Neuqua Valley. The North Stars blasted a season-high 3 home runs off the bats of Ashley Seering, winning pitcher Amanda Ciran and catcher Annie Korth, who capped the scoring with a grand slam.
Neuqua Valley (20-9, 11-5) was the last team to beat the North Stars, 10-9 last month. The North Stars have won 14 straight since.
"I know some girls on the team and I definitely wanted to get them back," Seering said. "I knew 10-9 was a real close game and we could come back just as hard and get them. And we did."
St. Charles North (24-2, 14-1) took another step toward repeating as Upstate Eight champions. With five conference games left the North Stars hold a 2-game lead over Lake Park.
Ciran improved to 11-0. She shut the Wildcats out through the first five innings while her team built an 8-0 lead.
"We definitely wanted revenge," Ciran said. "We didn't want them to beat us twice. It made us come out and fight harder this time."
Ciran set the Wildcats down in order the first two innings, then her offense took advantage of Colleen Hohman's wildness to grab the lead. Hohman walked 6 batters in the first 2 1/3 innings before Neuqua Valley coach Elaina Tanaka turned to Jena Boudreau.
"She (Hohman) was struggling a little today but that's a great hitting team," Tanaka said. "We gave up too many free bases. They were a better team today."
Seering singled in the second and scored the first run on Juliaclare Plezbert's single up the middle. Natalie Capone hit a liner between short and third to score the second run, and Plezbert came in on wild pitch for a 3-0 lead after two innings.
The North Stars made it 5-0 in the third and chased Hohman. Plezbert drew a bases-loaded walk and another wild pitch scored Seering.
St. Charles North turned to its power to score its final seven runs. Seering led off the fifth inning with a solo home run, her team-high fifth of the season.
"I got under it just a bit but the wind was blowing out," Seering said. "The wind was on my side today."
Korth doubled and scored on Plezbert's double. Ciran followed with what appeared to be a 2-run home run to left. But Plezbert was called out at the plate when the umpire ruled a teammate had given Plezbert a high-five before she touched home.
Ciran settled for what went down officially as a solo home run and an 8-0 lead.
"If it's going to happen I'd rather have it happen now," said St. Charles North coach April Stary, who said she had never seen a call like that.
"They now know they are not allowed anywhere near the plate. Let everybody cross first and then you can do your cheer. We don't want that to happen if that run is going to make a lot more difference. We learn everything the hard way."
After the Wildcats scored four runs in the top of the sixth, the North Stars matched it in the bottom of the sixth on Korth's grand slam, her fourth homer this year. Ciran also has 4 home runs and St. Charles North has 19 as a team.
"That team is such an amazing hitting team," Tanaka said. "They hit the ball hard. They were aggressive at the plate. They were hungry for the ball."
Leadoff hitter Amanda Mener had 2 of Neuqua Valley's 6 singles. Jenna Marsalli ripped a 2-run single in the sixth inning.
Seering went 3-for-4 for the North Stars and Korth and Plezbert both had 2 hits.
"We knew coming back this game we wanted to show we know what we are doing," Stary said. "They came out bats a blazing, defensively they played when they needed to. They (Neuqua) got a couple hits off Amanda but her and Annie are firing on all cylinders right now."