North Stars break loose against Elgin

St. Charles North softball coach April Stary hasn't been all that happy with her team's 1-3 start to the season.

But there's nothing like a resounding win to open the conference season to put a smile on the coach's face.

The North Stars hit Elgin with a 7-run second inning and went on to beat the Maroons 15-0 in a 5-inning slaughter rule game to open the Upstate Eight Conference season Wednesday at Elgin High.

"That looks a lot better than it did on Saturday," said Stary, referring to her team's doubleheader loss to Elk Grove this past weekend. "That looks a lot better than it did on Saturday."

After Elgin senior Kelly Patchett got out of a mini-jam in the top of the first inning with no damage, the young North Stars (2-3, 1-0) broke loose in the second.

Sophomores Ashley Seering and Annie Korth opened the inning with back-to-back singles and when Elgin (1-9, 0-1) failed to cover first base on Kristin Damm's sacrifice bunt, the North Stars had the bases loaded and no outs. Winning pitcher Christine Roggemann then delivered a 2-run single to right-center and the rout was on.

"We made some mental mistakes and that was a big one," said Elgin coach Peg Corcoran of her team not covering first on Damm's bunt. "We played well in the first inning and held them, then we come out and don't cover bases."

Before Elgin could get out of the second inning, the North Stars had plated 7 runs on 8 hits. Sydney Russell had a 2-run double while Juliaclare Plezbert and Korth also drive in runs in the inning.

North tacked on 3 more runs with two outs in the third inning when Loren Cihlar beat out a bunt single and Sydney Russell beat out an infield single, setting up Taylor Russell's 3-run home run to center field.

"This year we've got some power in the lineup that we didn't have last year," Stary said.

With the lead safe, the North Stars relied on the senior Roggemann, who made her season debut in the circle. She struck out eight, didn't walk anyone and allowed only a bloop single to right by Jenna Jaynes in the second inning that could have been caught.

"I don't know how to explain what she does," said Stary of Roggemann. "Obviously she's not overpowering with her speed or even her presence. I'm not sure of it's her motion or what."

Stary has the luxury of four pitchers this season - Roggemann, Amanda Engel, Amanda Ciran and Emily Watts - but she doesn't put them in any order.

"We don't necessarily have a rotation right now," Stary said. "Watts is a rookie, we're relying on Ciran and Engel a lot and then (Roggemann) is the one who just comes in and gets it done."

Sydney Russell and Seering each had 3 hits for the North Stars, who had 18 hits in the game, while Cihlar, Taylor Russell, Plezbert and Korth had 2 hits each.

For Corcoran, it was a disappointing performance on the heels of the Prairie Ridge tournament on Saturday where the Maroons played well and got their first win.

"We didn't put the ball in play today," she said. "Take nothing away from St. Charles North; they're a good team. We just have to have a short memory and come out and get it done tomorrow."