Huskies maintain aggressive early posture

Naperville North can enjoy its nine-day layoff.

The Huskies pounded out 9 hits in an 8-2 win over Plainfield North on Monday for their fourth win in five games to start the season.

"I think the fact that we're getting these games in, we're fighting the cold, we're going to be ready once DVC comes," said Huskies senior Diana Rechenmacher, who went 2-for-3 and scored 3 runs. "We string together our hits and we're really attacking this year."

Naperville North has scored 5 or more runs in all of its wins, and the bats were at it again Monday. The Huskies scored in five of the seven innings, and were aggressive on the bases with 7 steals. Leadoff hitter Sammy Marshall also scored from third on a grounder in the fifth with an acrobatic slide over and around the Plainfield North catcher.

Leading 5-2 after five innings, the Huskies broke things open in the sixth with back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Rechenmacher and Sarah Adam.

"The hits when we needed them were coming today," Huskies coach Jerry Kedziora said. "If we can do that all the time we're going to be tough to beat."

Plainfield North (1-1) was a willing assistant to Naperville North's first 2 runs. Kendall Vassar was hit by pitch to lead off the second, and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Rechenmacher singled to start the third, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Rechenmacher also scored in the fourth on a wild pitch.

"They did the little things," Plainfield North coach George Sam said, "and we gave them a couple runs. At least three runs, maybe four, they got for free."

Huskies starting pitcher Layne Engel (3-0) flirted with danger throughout four-plus innings, but got the big outs when she needed them. Engel stranded 7 baserunners in the first four innings, and left for reliever Emily Dieckmann with the bases loaded and none out in the fifth. Two of those runners scored, but Dieckmann shut the door after that, striking out five with high heat in a cold wind.

"Layne didn't have her best stuff today, she wasn't hitting her spots," Kedziora said, "but she's a bulldog out there. We like the way she battles. It's always going to be tough to score on her, with the way our defense is playing."