Team Josten provides power, pitching in Fremd win

After remarkable back-to-back games with 3 doubles against Mundelein and Resurrection, junior Julie Josten still managed to outdo herself on Wednesday.

The Fremd third baseman belted her first two home runs of the season, the second a walk-off grand slam that gave Fremd a 14-3 six-inning victory over visiting Grayslake Central in Palatine.

Josten's power surge was part of a 10-hit attack by the Vikings that also included a towering 2-run homer to right center by Kayla Kaufman in the first inning and Tracy Welninski's 3-for-3 performance with 2 doubles.

Josten's first home run was a solo blast to right in the Vikings' 6-run third inning and was part of her career-high 5 RBI day.

While Julie was connecting on offense, her sister Joanna was clicking on the mound.

Joanna notched her third win of the season without a loss by throwing three scoreless innings (5 strikeouts, 3 hits) before junior Hailey Goodwin went the final two innings, giving up no earned runs.

"I thought Joanna threw well," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver whose team is 4-0. "And Hailey did, too. There's only one pitch we'd want back from Hailey."

That was a 2-run double by Rams pitcher Brandy Heraty (2-2), driving home Shelby White and Katie Strickland, who had led off the fifth inning by reaching on errors.

"We showed at times that were going to fight," said Grayslake Central coach Jason Schaal. "Even when were down 4-0 early, we came back and loaded the bases (with two outs in the third inning).

But Joanna Josten came up with a groundout to first baseman Lauren Vanhavermaet to finish the day with three scoreless innings.

And Joanna was able to thank her little sister for helping out on the offensive side of things.

"She has always been a better hitter than I," Joanna said. "It's really cool that we can work together on the field and help the team out. I like playing with her out there. It's really fun. And our whole team is doing great. We've all been working really hard."

"It's great that my sister and I can support each other," Julie added. "We've played a lot together on past teams. Now she is doing the pitching and I am helping on offense. And our whole team is hitting which is awesome. We've got the bats going."

And it's going to be one exciting season for John Josten, who gets to watch both his daughters play key roles on the diamond.

"He loves to come to all the games," said Joanna about John her father, a former St. Viator quarterback and baseball player who appeared in two NCAA bowl games as a defensive back for Wisconsin in the early 1980s. "He is always telling us things about the game and he has been a huge help in our careers."

Just like the Jostens are helping Fremd softball.

"Not only can they play softball but they're great kids," Weaver said. "We're glad to have them."

Schaal was glad to see his team (5-5) keep fighting.

"Jim's (Weaver) program is recognized as one of the top ones in the state," Schaal said. "I'm proud of the way our girls fought. There a few things we need to improve on if we want to compete the Fox Valley Conference."

White led the Rams' offense by going 2-for-3 with a stolen base while Strickland, Heraty, Juliana Frusolone and Theresa Curtis each has a hit.

Abbi Iuorio, Leigh Farina, Molly Muhs and Vanhavermaet also had a hit for the Vikings, who host Lake Zurich on Friday.

Julie Josten, a right-handed hitter, hit both homers to the opposite field.

"Julie has been hitting the ball well all season," Weaver said. "She worked hard in the off-season. She earned the right to hit well. It doesn't just happen on game day."

A day that Julie Josten, the Vikings' clean-up hitter, won't soon forget.