Softball: Antioch pitches in, defeats Wauconda
With no seniors on this year's roster, Antioch coach Anthony Rocco knows he has a young team, and that the desired results might not come right off the bat.
Hasn't looked like it thus far, and any experience challenges certainly didn't look evident on Monday afternoon as the Sequoits posted a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over host Wauconda in North Suburban Prairie softball action.
It was a major early season statement as many pick the senior-heavy Bulldogs team to win its third division title in a row.
"We were a little frustrated early in the game, but we put the ball in play," said Rocco, whose team improved to 9-1 overal, and 3-0 and atop the Prairie. "We need to fine-tune some things, like our base running. But I'm very happy with the way things have been going so far."
Rocco has the luxury of having three solid pitchers in the rotation - juniors Stephanie Bonaguidi and Hannah Cook, and sophomore Katie Sorenson.
On Monday, Bonaguidi got the ball. She ended up scattering 5 hits and a walk while getting 4 strikeouts in 4⅔ innings of work before being relived by Cook after Wauconda (3-3, 0-1) had taken a 1-0 lead.
"This is Stephanie's first game back after missing a week with an ankle injury, and she did a great job," said Rocco. "But we're fortunate in that we have a lot of flexibility with our pitching."
The only hiccup for Bonaguidi against Wauconda was in the fourth inning.
Junior Mallory Carver laced a two-out double to center. Junior Alex Steffens followed by smacking another double to center to plate Carver, who slid just under the tag of Antioch sophomore catcher Deighton Butenschoen for a seemingly safe 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wauconda senior ace and UIC-bound pitcher Kayla Wedl was cruising along and had 11 strikeouts to that point.
That was until the top of the sixth when the Sequoits put a 3-spot on the board.
"We just didn't make the plays and we need to cut down on errors," said Wedl, who fell to 2-1 but ended up fanning 16 batters while giving up only 3 hits and 3 walks. "We need to get back to playing like a team and keeping our composure."
With the bases loaded and no outs, Antioch's big sixth inning got going when junior Ashley Stephens roped a 2-run single to left that scored juniors Piper Foote (walk) and Jill Foote (reached on error) for a 2-1 advantage.
Antioch added a big insurance run when sophomore Kaylee Schreiner reached on a fielder's choice that plated Sorenson, who'd earlier reached on an infield single.
"Their pitcher (Wedl) is really talented and she had us frustrated," said Stephens. "But we showed patience and after a couple of at-bats it started coming together. It's just nice to beat them. They are one of our biggest rivals."
Cook (4-0) did a sparkling job relieving Bonaguidi, surrendering no hits while fanning 1 and walking 2 in 2⅓ innings.
Sorenson finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and Stephens was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Along with Steffens, senior Taylor McCarthy was 2-for-4 with a double, and senior Brooke Sefcik and junior Mallory Carver also belted doubles for Wauconda.