St. Francis scores early and often
St. Francis is making it a habit to score early runs on the road this season.
It’s a pattern Ralph Remus can get used to.
“That’s a good way to start the game,” said the Spartans coach, congratulating his girls on doing so Wednesday. “It’s a runs advantage, and it’s a psychological advantage to come out like that.”
The Spartans sure got off the bus swinging Wednesday. St. Francis batted around in a six-run first inning, setting the tone in a 15-6 win at Wheaton Academy.
Alyssa Fernandez had a run-scoring double in the first and Ali Dittrich a two-run double, two of the Spartans’ five two-baggers. Fernandez singled in a run in the second and added a two-run double in the third inning when St. Francis went ahead 13-0.
“Aly (Germanos) and I, we preach to the girls that it’s important to get in team’s heads early,” Fernandez said. “One way of doing that is scoring first.”
Germanos and Fernandez sure set the tone for St. Francis (10-2, 2-0 Suburban Christian Conference Blue).
The senior second base-shortstop combo have been playing either against or with each other since they were 8 years old and are close friends. Germanos on Wednesday was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and scored 3 runs.
“We’re about as close as you can get in the middle infield,” Fernandez said. “It’s really relaxing to have someone who knows what I’m thinking out there with me.”
Dittrich had 2 doubles, 3 hits and 3 RBI. Every St. Francis spot in the lineup reached base.
Spotting St. Francis the 13-0 lead, Wheaton Academy (2-6, 2-4) got its own bats going.
Sophomore Jessica Bosse singled in a pair of runs and Gina Graff doubled in a run in the third inning, and Bosse singled in 2 more runs in the fourth.
“We never gave up. I was proud of their effort,” Warriors coach Paul Gagliano said. “We’re getting better every game, we’re a very young team, and we showed some character today.”
Marissa Gagliano had 2 hits, reached base 3 times and scored 3 runs and Bosse was 3-for-4 for Wheaton Academy, which matched the amount of runs it scored over the last three games. The Warriors did score 36 runs their first four games of the season.
“We have the potential,” Gagliano said.
St. Francis plays Walther Lutheran today, then the big one Friday — a makeup with Montini. The top two teams in the league last year figure to decide it again this spring. St. Francis won two of the three meetings last year, including a regional win.
“That’s the one we’re waiting for,” Fernandez said.
Follow Josh on Twitter @jwelge96