Softball: West Aurora freshman Lundberg Ks school-record 19
Ordinarily a freshman softball pitcher making her first start at the varsity level would be a little nervous, but West Aurora's Payton Lundberg is no ordinary pitcher. In fact her performance on Tuesday was nothing short of extraordinary.
The right-hander broke a school record by fanning 19 batters while firing a 1-hitter in a 5-0 Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division win at South Elgin. The only hit off Lundberg came on a wind blown pop fly in the infield in the fifth inning.
Lundberg pitched a pair of no-hitters and a perfect game at the JV level this year. She had made a few relief appearances with the varsity team before bursting onto the scene on Tuesday.
“I wasn't really nervous. More excited,” Lundberg said. “I know I have a great team behind me, so I can pitch with no fear. I was just working to get ahead in the count and hit my spots.”
Lundberg got off to a great start by striking out the first 7 batters she faced. The first time the Storm put the ball in the play was on a bunt attempt. She ran into a few control problems in the middle innings. She had 4 walks. The first came to the leadoff batter in the fourth inning. Her biggest challenge came in the sixth inning with South Elgin loaded the bases on 2 walks and an error with no one out. However, Lundberg responded like a savvy veteran by striking out the next 3 batters.
“She pitches so effortlessly she makes it look easy,” West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett. “This is a good South Elgin team she was facing, too. This was a tough test and she was really up for it. She just loves to compete and doesn't back down. You saw that when she got out that jam.”
South Elgin hurler Geneva Pollman was cruising herself as she blanked the Blackhawks through the first 4 innings. However, West Aurora (12-1, 6-0) finally broke through in the fifth inning.
Grace Hunger got it started with a leadoff triple. Carley Fraunhoff followed with an RBI double to right-center for the first run of the game. Kallie Rundle added an RBI double. Later in the inning Cara Jiminez delivered the biggest blow with a 3-run double.
“The first time through the order I thought we had their pitcher timed pretty well, but we were just getting under it a little,” Hayslett said. “That second time through we stated getting on top of the ball and hitting line drives.”
The Storm (9-11, 0-1) were coming off a championship at the Woodstock tournament over the weekend.
“Our effort was a little disappointing today,” South Elgin coach Brad Reynard said. “We didn't swing the bats very well. But you really have to tip your hat some times to the other pitcher. She was tremendous today. She pumped it inside on us and we just couldn't react.'