Thereon, South Elgin dump St. Charles North

One day after recording the program's first-ever win over Bartlett, South Elgin's softball team continued building confidence and momentum with Friday's 6-2 Upstate Eight Conference victory over host St. Charles North (2-4, 1-1).

Senior Cary Thereon (3-2), who pitched the Storm to a 3-0 shutout over Bartlett on Thursday, fired 5 more scoreless innings before giving up a pair of sixth-inning runs. Thereon, who allowed 6 hits, walked two and struck out five while keeping North Stars batters off-balance with a variety of fastballs and change-ups.

"Everything was working for me today," said Thereon. "I was throwing my fastball a lot - it was a good day."

"Cary's doing a great job keeping the ball low," said Storm coach Jason Schaal. "She's getting a lot of groundball outs (11 on Friday)."

The Storm wasted little time taking control, scoring 3 first-inning runs with the benefit of just 1 base hit - an RBI single off the bat of third baseman Kayla Ismajlaj (2-for-4).

Katelyn Stonecipher opened the game with a walk, and after a one-out walk to Kim Pierce (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Stonecipher scored South Elgin's first run on an infield throwing error. Courtney Bosteder drove in the game's second run on a groundout.

"This year, we've started slow in a lot of games so to come out and be able to put three (runs) up in the top half of the first inning was a great start," said Schaal. "It just helps Cary (Thereon) relax and it helps the whole team relax, settle down and play defense.

"If we can continue to do that, we're going to be a strong team."

Thereon admittedly felt more comfortable as she headed to the mound in the bottom of the first inning.

"That helps a lot," she said of the 3-0 early cushion. "Yesterday and today, everyone was hitting. Everyone has been on - the defense, too. We've played so solid the last two days."

Lauren Vitiello (2-for-4, double) added an RBI single in the third and Pierce's 2-run, fourth-inning single helped South Elgin stretch its lead to 6-0.

"Beating Bartlett was one of our team goals this season and this (St. Charles North) is another team that we wanted to come out and beat because we know that this is a really good team," said Thereon. "It's another big win for us."

Sophomore Amanda Ciran (1-2) suffered the loss for the North Stars, who finally broke through in the sixth on an RBI single by Juliaclare Plezbert.

"It wasn't anything Amanda was doing wrong - South Elgin was just hitting her," said North Stars coach April Stary. "We need to get our bats in gear a little bit quicker as opposed to waiting until the sixth and seventh inning to push some runs across."

South Elgin now prepares for next week's back-to-back games against Lake Park and Neuqua Valley.

"We're 2-0 right now, which means we're tied for first in the Upstate Eight Conference," said Schaal. "Now we've got to show up Monday afternoon ready to go against a good Lake Park program."