York tops shorthanded Willowbrook

Softball coaches always talk about the importance of getting production from the entire lineup. So far this spring, York has delivered on that talk, and in the process the Dukes have put together a special season.

With Gaby Magnifico and Abby Solem smacking home runs from the No. 3 and No. 4 holes in the order Saturday morning, York knocked off Willowbrook 11-1 in six innings in the first game of a twinbill played in Elmhurst.

York won the second game 9-1, outhitting the Warriors 16-4. Audrey Kosman (5-1) was the winning pitcher.

The wins improved the Dukes to 17-1-1 on the year and came one day after No 9 hitter Sarah Maciejewski belted a pair of home runs - including the game-winner in the seventh - in a 6-5 win over Hinsdale Central.

"One through nine, everybody's been a hero at some point, which is so awesome," said Solem, who was 3-for-4 with 5 RBI in the win over the Warriors. "The whole season we've played really well from behind and we just rally. We're composed and we can all hit."

Willowbrook (12-8) touched Dukes pitcher Brooke Bandy (11-0) for a run in the top of the first. But with a chance to add on with just one out, they left the bases loaded. Magnifico's shot over the wall in center in the bottom of the first tied the score, and York went ahead for good with an unearned run off Warriors starter Zoe Dannenberg in the second.

"I'd say being able to hold them to the one run was good and then it gave us the confidence we needed to go back and try and shut down their offense off of that," said Bandy, who improved to 11-0 on the year after holding a strong Warriors lineup to 1 run and 4 hits over six innings. "Every time I go out there I feel like they're behind me with their fielding and their bats, so it's a great feeling to go out there with these nine."

For a Willowbrook team already missing a few contributors due to injury, Saturday morning didn't help matters any.

Dannenberg, who trailed 5-1 after four innings, was hit in her throwing hand while batting in the top of the fifth. She tried to tough it out on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, but after a walk, a single and an error, she gave up a 3-run homer to Solem as the Dukes took command at 9-1. Willowbrook shortstop Sam Schmidt left that same fifth inning with back soreness, and Dannenberg moved to shortstop while Delaney Pelsor took over on the mound.

In the next inning Solem hit a 2-run double to right to make the score 11-1 and end the game after six innings.

"Our bats are really coming alive. One through nine makes something happen," said York coach Jenna Bode Nolan. "Every kid that steps up to the plate you have confidence in."

Warriors coach Rachel Karos, meanwhile, is just hopeful her team can get a little healthier real fast.

"We're just leaving too many runners on base and we're giving up too many outs," Karos said. "Right now we're in a little slump. I think we played a solid game for most of it, then Zoe takes one off the hand and then we can't do some stuff."

Due to the growing injuries, Karos had to play the second game with a few players out of position.

"We know we can do better," she said. "At the end of the day, we're not gong to be our best if we're not healthy. So we've just got to get ourselves healthy."