Udoni, Palatine doubly pleased with victory
Palatine first baseman Jules Udoni started the week by hitting a pair of doubles at Fremd on Monday.
The senior returned to her home field on Wednesday for a Mid-Suburban League crossover against Wheeling.
She didn't lose her doubles touch.
And the Pirates inched to within one of double-digit wins.
Udoni belted two more doubles, one with the bases loaded in the third inning, to help spark the Pirates' 13-hit attack in a 13-3 five-inning victory over visiting Wheeling.
"It felt good," Udoni said of her 2-for-3 effort. "We needed this momentum going into tour game with St. Viator (at home on Friday)."
The Pirates (9-23) also sparkled on defense.
Taking advantage of 2 errors and a walk, Wheeling (5-25) had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the fourth.
Erin Davis was called upon and escaped without giving up a run.
She got the first out on a force at the plate by fielding a grounder and throwing to catcher Kenzie Craver.
The next batter grounded to third baseman Jamie Haze who threw home to Craver for the second out. The third batter flew out to center fielder Shannon Surell.
"It was a great team effort," Udoni said. "I'm so proud of Erin. She really came through and we played good team defense."
"I'm so happy for my team," added senior Courtney English, the Pirates right fielder who went 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
"Erin pitched so well against Fremd on Monday and her confidence really carried over to this game. And Dominique (Boisvert, who got the win) pitched three solid innings.
"It makes it so easy to play the outfield when your pitchers are throwing so well."
Wheeling put up all its runs in the first inning, sparked by Lauren Hart's 3-run double to right center after the Wildcats had loaded the bases.
Nikki Mikosz reached on an error and Alexa Orlando and Katie Quagliano drew walks.
But the Pirates wasted no time answering, collecting 5 runs in the bottom of the first.
Leadoff batter Nora Walsh (2-for-3) started the rally with a single to right and scored on English's one-out double to left. After Craver (2-for-2) was hit by a pitch, Emily Plesnicar (2-for-3) singled home English.
Victoria Parrott added a 2-run triple and Udoni's RBI double made it 5-3.
The Pirates built the lead to 13-3 in the third when they scored 8 runs.
Walsh started the rally with an infield hit and No. 2 hitter Grace Rohrwasser reached on an infield error, setting up English's 2-run single to right.
"Our 1-2 slappers (Walsh and Rohrwasser) have been outstanding," said Palatine coach Jeff Manz. "They set the table again today."
Craver, batting cleanup, had 2 hits in the big inning, including a double to center.
She also made a nice grab on a throw for one of the force plays at the plate when the Wildcats had the bases loaded in the next inning.
"That was huge," Manz said of the Pirates' getting out of jam without a run being scored. "After the 2 errors and walk, Erin gets the comebacker, then Kenzie makes a great catch on a throw to the plate and the great catch by Shannon (Surrell) on that hit to center."
Davis retired the side in order in the fifth to complete the combined 1-hitter with Boisvert, who picked up her third win.
"We came into the game trying to get momentum for the regional," said Wildcats coach Mike Caringella, whose team is the No. 18 seed in the Carmel regional. "That's what we are working on. We were ready at the start but then we made a couple of errors and the wheels fell apart.
"But everything now is about getting ready for Monday (11 .am. play-in game at Hersey (No. 14 seed). We've got to tighten up our defense and execute on offense."
The game also featured a 'who's who' of former Palatine standouts softball players now coaching.
In Caringella's dugout were former Pirates Kelli Urban and Nikki Linares.
In Manz' dugout is former Pirates catcher Caitlin Carpenter, who is joined on the Pirates' staff by former Pirate all-area players Nicole Pauly and Melissa Meagher.
"It's so cool to see all these ex-players out here coaching," Manz said. "It's nice to see them giving back. I am honored to have them coaching."
Even ex-players still playing in college were at the game, including former Wildcat Sara Kern and former Pirate Lauren Logan, who played for the University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team which recently came within one game of playing in the Division II World Series.