Felde, Schaumburg step up for share of second in West
After dropping a 1-0 decision on the final play of the game at Barrington earlier this spring, Schaumburg's softball players were out to score some runs this time.
And they sure got them at an opportune time on Tuesday.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the host team pushed across 3 runs and pitcher Shannon Felde retired three of four batters in the seventh to give the Saxons a 5-2 victory and share of second place in the Mid-Suburban West with Barrington (22-10, 12-4).
"We all came together, and that's what counts," said Felde, whose count for the season went up to 10-4 on the pitcher's mound. "After the tough loss last time to them, we said that everyone had to be up and we just had to believe in ourselves.
"We are getting ready for the postseason. We know we have a lot to do and we are working hard to get there. We're all willing to work as hard as we can."
Felde worked hard on the mound, where she tossed a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts against the defending MSL champs. The sophomore right-hander walked the first two batters of the game but then struck out the side.
Senior shortstop Erin Ward scored from third on a dropped third strike to give Barrington a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Fillies made it 2-0 in the third when Jennifer Inamoto doubled to left with one out and scored on Katie Dehnert's single up the middle.
But the Saxons (22-8, 12-4) kept scrapping away at the plate and tied the game with 2 runs in the fourth on RBI singles by second baseman Roxanne Kakareka and catcher Elaine Walker, who went 4-for-4 in the game with 2 RBI and a double.
Barrington ace Keenan Dolezal (21-9) escaped further damage in the inning by striking out the side.
"We talked about scoring runs this game," said Walker, the leadoff batter. "It was nice to get this win after the 1-0 loss to them. We had better at-bats and we were more confident at the plate. We took some pitches and we were more patient."
Junior Kelly Poplar led off the decisive sixth inning with a single up the middle.
After Jamie Kudjer reached on an error, Walker came through with the game-winning RBI single to left center to score Poplar.
The Saxons scored another run on an error and then received a RBI single to right by sophomore shortstop Christina Candotti (2-for-4) to make it 5-2.
"We had good hitting and good pitching," said Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu. "It was an all-around great game and we had timely hitting.
"We made some nice plays at first (Paige Alt with some nice stretches) and shortstop (Candotti) and Roxanne (Kakareka) made some nice plays. Elaine is a solid leadoff hitter and Sarah Schwind has been great in the No. 2 spot. She put down some nice bunts."
Inamoto led the Fillies' offense by going 2-for-3 while Dehnert and Taylor Moran had the only other hits off Felde.
"We continue to have a lot of things to work on," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose team will host Elk Grove today in a Mid-Suburban League crossover. "We will continue to work on those things the rest of the season."