SCN's Ciran, Batavia's Nelson both still going strong

After all the attention about the change to pitching from 43 feet this year, a pair of local pitchers proved on back-to-back days this week that good pitching can still be pretty hard to hit - from any distance.

Batavia sophomore Brooke Nelson did to Sandwich on Thursday what St. Charles North junior Amanda Ciran did to Schaumburg Wednesday - toss a no-hitter.

The North Stars' defense was a little better behind Ciran, making just one error to the three Batavia committed. And Ciran's control was slightly better, walking nobody to go with 7 strikeouts while Nelson walked a pair.

Suffice it to say both teams are going to need these two to continue pitching at a similar level to get where they want to go. For Batavia, that means to build on last year's .500 record and move up in the Western Sun Conference.

For St. Charles North, the goals are higher with the entire team returning from last year's 27-win season. Ciran said the North Stars put the work in the off-season to be even better this year, and that their varsity experience that began as freshmen is starting to pay off.

"It's experience. We've been a team together most of us for three years," Ciran said. "It's confidence in my team they are going to back me up on defense, confidence in my catcher that we can call a good game together."

The North Stars learned their road to a sectional title this week when the IHSA announced postseason groupings. The good news? St. Charles North gets to host a sectional. The bad? The amount of dynamite teams - St. Charles East, Elk Grove, Bartlett, Glenbard North and Lake Park to name just a few - that are also in the sectional.

North Stars coach April Stary knows her team's chances improve dramatically if Ciran is as dominating in the circle as she was in wins this week over Plainfield Central and Schaumburg. The North Stars already have the other two phases of the game covered with a lineup that features a killer combination of speed and power, and an experienced, talented defense.

"She did the same thing yesterday," Stary said of Ciran's effort against Plainfield Central. "Changed her pitches, threw a little of this, a little of that. Everything was pretty much working."

And as for coming one error away from a perfect game?

"It is kind of a bummer but at the same time whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Stary said.

Ciran said the season-opening 4-3 loss to Plainfield Central is something they already have learned from.

"It was a getting settled kind of game," Ciran said. "It actually made us better for our second game knowing what we need to work on."