Moving performance from Lauret, Libertyville
The versatile and well-traveled Jessie Lauret found herself moving again Thursday.
In an attempt to shake up her softball team, Libertyville coach Elissa Wisniewski moved her speedy junior from the top of the batting order down to the sixth spot. And Wisniewski wasn't done. She also handed the ball to Lauret, who said she hadn't started a varsity game in the circle since her freshman year at Zion-Benton, when she mainly patrolled center field.
"Trying something new," Wisniewski said. "Changing it up."
The strategy worked.
The slap-hitting Lauret went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored, and also overcame 8 walks to pitch a complete game and lead the Wildcats to an 8-2 win over visiting Antioch in a crossover game between two of the North Suburban Conference's top teams.
"The last couple of games she's been struggling a little bit (offensively)," Wisniewski said of Lauret. "So we wanted to take some of the pressure off her at the leadoff spot and just let her get her swing back. She did a great job today. They shifted on her and she hit it exactly where they weren't (into right field both times)."
Lauret wasn't the only Libertyville player looking for more positive results. The Wildcats (11-5) had dropped their last two games, albeit to perennial state power Barrington and defending Class 4A state champ Warren.
"I think everyone struggles," Lauret said. "I haven't had a slump since I was in eighth grade."
Lauret usually starts at shortstop. She's also played second base in her two seasons as a Wildcat. Against Antioch (15-3), the righty escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning of a scoreless game, as she got two called-third strikes. The Sequoits packed the bags with one out in the sixth and failed to score again. As she did in the second, Lauret recorded the final out in the sixth on a called-third strike.
"I'm pretty sure I smiled so big after every (out)," Lauret said with a laugh. "I was like, 'Thank God.' It was such a relief."
Antioch loaded the bases for a third time in the seventh, but this time Ashley Stephens (3-for-4) delivered an RBI single, before Lauret walked Jill Foote to force in a run. Lauret, who walked Jessica Pedersen three times, allowed only 5 hits and struck out six.
"It was pretty hard," Lauret said of pitching 7 innings. "I just beared down the last inning."
Verbally committed to Purdue, Lauret will be a hitter in college.
"I wasn't meant for pitching,"she said, smiling.
During Antioch's seventh-inning rally, Wisniewski had a conference in the circle and told Lauret to let her defense work for her. That's exactly what Lauret did, as shortstop Jamie Stevens made a diving catch to her right, robbing Annie Wagner to end the game.
"It's exactly what we look for our upperclassmen to do," Wisniewski said.
Antioch played without veteran catcher Jessica Tyrell, who suffered a non-softball-related concussion, coach Anthony Rocco said. In Tyrell's place, freshman Deighton Butenschoen got called up and started behind the plate.
"She's a very quality catcher," Rocco said. "She's got a strong arm, knows the game, blocks well. We're happy to have her."
Libertyville also had a newcomer in the lineup, as sophomore Lizzy Flores was also part of Wisniewski's shake-up. The left-hitting Flores batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in her varsity debut.
"She's been tearing it up on JV," Wisniewski said.
Kenzie Rother also doubled in a run for Libertyville and threw out a runner at second base with a perfect throw from right field. Besides Lauret, the Wildcats got 2 hits apiece from Stevens (RBI), Madi Dembinski (RBI) and Sarah Hoyer (2 RBI).
Antioch will simply move on.
"We didn't play a good game," Rocco said. "This is the worst game we've played all year. We weren't aggressive by any means, offensively or defensively."