Softball: Addison Trail stops Fenton
What looked like a softball game where the ink on the final result was going to dry early turned into a battle until the end when Addison Trail visited Fenton on Friday.
The Blazers scored six runs in the second to take a 7-1 lead but had to hold off the Bison to go home with a 10-7 victory.
"I liked our two-out rallies. We scored runs early and we didn't settle in," said Addison Trail coach Mark Olson. "We were able to maintain our lead. We didn't panic and we fought for the single runs (in fourth, fifth and seventh innings)."
Olson considered this contest progress in regards to the team maintaining its composure in situations such as Friday when the Bison (1-13) rallied.
"Our assistant coach (Steve Gilliam) said it. Two weeks ago, we don't win this game," he said.
The teams were tied at 1 after the first inning. With one out the Blazers' Nicolette Napoli reached on a fielding error and two batters later came home on Nicolette Scorza's single.
Fenton responded in its half of the first with leadoff hitter Ellie Wassmann belting a 1-1 pitch into left field for a double. Ellie Gonzales' groundout moved her to third, and Wassmann later stole home.
Then the Blazers (4-5) opened the floodgates with six runs on six hits in the second to take the 7-1 lead. The big hit of the inning was Marie Baumgartner's 2-run single. RBI basehits also came from Napoli and Katie Lacni. Sophia Hawkins' groundout also brought in a run. Four of Addison Trail's five runs in that inning came with two outs.
Fenton responded with four runs in the third. Gonzales came through with a 2-run single and Rose Riley's groundout also scored a run and the Bison were helped by two Blazers errors.
Addison Trail made it 9-5 after five innings with a run in the fourth and one in the fifth. Scorza walked and Lacni's sacrifice fly scored her. In the fifth Gianna Sarli led off the inning with a single to right and scored on Alyssa McMahon's single to right.
With one out in the sixth, Isa Lozada was hit by a pitch and scored on Dianna Pikul's sacrifice fly. Wassmann reached on an infield hit and later scored on a throwing error to pull Fenton to within 9-7.
The Blazers took advantage of two Fenton errors in the seventh to score their final run. McMahon reached on the first error and scored on the second.
Fenton wasn't done. It loaded the bases with Alex Stoklosa, Courtney Susmarski and Lozada reaching in the bottom of the seventh. But McMahon closed the door to earn a save. Ally Polhad was the winning pitcher and went 5⅓ innings.
"Ally battled and Alyssa did a nice job coming in. Fenton is tough. They have a lot of great players," Olson said.
Fenton coach Dave Mello was pleased with the character his team showed after Addison Trail jumped out to its early big advantage.
"The easy way out would have been 11-1 after five innings. But it came down to the last play today," Mello said.
He praised the relief pitching of Taylor Spizzirri whose five innings were crucial to the Bison staying in the game.
Both teams return to action Monday with Addison Trail at Proviso East and Fenton at Chicago Christian. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.