Softball: Geneva snares much-needed win over St. Charles North

Emily Viebrock was looking to place the Geneva softball team back on the right track.

The Vikings had a slow start this spring, entering their DuKane Conference game against St. Charles North with losses in seven of their first eight games.

But Viebrock came through in the clutch in the bottom of the fourth inning in Geneva on Wednesday afternoon.

The junior first baseman slapped a hard single in the hole between short and third with the bases juiced.

Pinch-runner Reese Berndt and Sam Keller scored to break the only deadlock of the game.

Geneva starter Sydney Haake pitched six strong innings, but the freshman right-hander had to give way to Shelly Deisz in the bottom of the seventh.

Deisz stranded the would-be tying runs on the bases to preserve the Vikings' 4-2 victory.

"I just wanted to have a good, solid at-bat," Viebrock said. "I have had some good at-bats this season. I wanted it so bad."

The 2-run single broke a 1-1 tie, which had materialized under virtually identical circumstances: a sacrifice fly to center field.

Keller had a leadoff double for Geneva in its third and moved into third on back-to-back free passes.

Alyssa Kramer more than did her job with a fly ball to dead center for Geneva (2-7, 1-1).

But the North Stars waited few minutes for the equalizer in the top of the fourth.

Grace Sobieski delivered a fly ball to a very similar position to score Danielle Trumbo, who ripped a double to left-center to begin the North Stars' fourth.

But stranded opportunities would be a major theme for each team.

The schools combined to leave 19 runners aboard, but St. Charles North (4-3, 1-1) seemed to have greater setbacks.

"We made too many mistakes," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "We were trying to pitch around Keller (in the third). We were that one hit away from pushing a couple runners across (home plate)."

Geneva, which finished with 10 hits, received an important collaboration between Sydney Erdmann and Bella Walton.

Erdmann hit a double the other way to begin the Vikings' fifth.

One out later, Walton rifled a shot off the left-field fence to score the Vikings' senior with ease.

"I have been hitting well lately," Walton said. "I was looking for that first-pitch strike. I just got a good pitch to hit."

Freshman Ashley Santos' double to right center - with the North Stars down to their final out - temporarily resuscitated St. Charles North.

But Deisz induced a routine grounder to end the error-free game.

Geneva was never retired in order as Haake improved to 1-2.