Softball: Defense carries Naperville North past Naperville Central
The talk after Tuesday's 6-4 win by Naperville North over visiting Naperville Central was of defense.
The Huskies (9-6) mixed a flawless defensive performance with just enough offense to win the first of three games between the teams. It was also the DuPage Valley Conference opener for both squads.
"We finally played defense for the first time. It was a big difference and we got a couple of big hits," said Naperville North coach Jerry Kedziora.
No one was more appreciative than winning pitcher Camelia Chelich when the Huskies got out of a bases-loaded situation during Naperville Central's half of the sixth. That preserved a 5-4 advantage.
"To be able to count on the team behind me and their defense took a lot of weight off my shoulders," she said.
One of those outs was a flyball to center fielder Allison Arnold. Arnold made two skillful catches in the contest, both at or near the fence and one catch being backhanded.
As for the Redhawks (6-10), the team showed a good portion of offense, including 9 hits, but coach Andy Nussbaum said the defense has to improve. Naperville Central committed three errors and all three either helped score a run or put a runner on base that eventually scored.
"Naperville North was outstanding defensively and we consistently give away outs," he said. "If you give a team four outs, it's going to hurt you. Hats off to North. They had a lot of clutch hits and clutch defensive plays."
The Huskies struck first in the second. With one out Brooke Reed singled to right followed by Sarah Smith doing the same thing. But a throwing error on the same play scored Reed.
The Redhawks answered with 3 runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly by Jacqui Abogado and groundball out by Riley Pavelka were the key hits of the rally.
Naperville North pulled to within 3-2 in its half of the inning with Emma Johannes singling to center and Chelich's basehit driving her in.
What would be Naperville Central's last run of the afternoon came in the fourth with Olivia Balaun making good on an infield hit and scoring on Halle Arends' double to left.
The Huskies again cut the lead to 1 during their turn in the inning when Lorri Pitock reached on an infield bunt and scored later on a fielding error.
Naperville North took the lead for good in the fifth. Chelich reached on a fielding error and with two outs Smith hit the ball over the right-field fence.
"I knew from my previous at-bats that all the pitches were going outside. I knew to look for that and I wanted to take it to the right side," she said.
Smith said facing the cross-town rival Redhawks never gets old.
"The rivalry is really special. Naperville Central always comes out with a good team," she said.
The Huskies got an insurance run in the sixth. Pitock reached on another infield hit bunt and Johannes' double scored her.