Softball: DiVito's big day helps Fremd roll by Conant
Fremd softball coach Josh Teschner knew last summer that Cali DiVito was going to be a varsity player.
"It was a just a matter of getting her to not only believe it but to execute it." he said.
The sophomore third baseman executed as well as anyone on the diamond Tuesday, going 4-for-4 with 2 RBI as Fremd took an 11-0 five-inning decision from Conant in the Mid-Suburban West game.
The Vikings (9-4) remained in thick of contention for the West crown as they improved to 5-1 and remained perfect on the new home field on which they've played four times.
Conant (1-11, 1-5) was home on the scoreboard since it was a home game for the Cougars, who do not have a home field this spring (new one being constructed).
Batting No. 5 in the order, DiVito belted the game-winning RBI in the first inning with a double off the left-center field fence that scored Sophia Crescio (2-for-3).
"Cali worked her butt off all winter long in her workouts," Teschner said "And all season long she has been a tempo kid for us. She wants to play as fast and as sharp as possible, and she is starting to come through at the plate. She's had a really nice run the last two or three weeks."
"My teammates got on base so that helps because I know I have to get them in," said DiVito, who played on the Vikings' freshman team last spring.
DiVito is part of Teschner's youngest teams in his three seasons.
Tuesday's game was actually the first time he had all underclassmen (including four freshmen) on the field at the same time.
"That's the first time that's happened for Fremd softball in a very, very long time," Teschner said. "We knew this would be a youth movement this year and the younger players are stepping up incredibly. It's awesome to see."
Fremd fans saw their four freshmen clicking all over the diamond.
Catcher Elaina Kraus walloped her third homer in the last four games, a prodigious 2-run blast over the left field fence following DiVito's second double of the game.
No. 9 hitter Eva Jordan went 3-for-3, missing the cycle by a home run.
Leadoff batter Kalyn McCarthy went 2-for-4 with a double and two sharp line outs.
And finally, completing 'freshman day', was pitcher Gina Dudley, who made her varsity debut by striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Vikes sophomore Grace Hiller (5-1) struck out four in the first four innings, allowing just 1 hit, a two-out double to sophomore Emma Wokurka.
"Emma just really went after it that at-bat," said first-year Conant coach Allie Bauch. "You could tell she was going to get good contact out of it. That's what I want all our hitters to do."
Bauch had junior pitcher Kayleen Sebo work the final 2⅓ innings.
"I liked the way Kayleen came in and pitched, especially in that kind of a situation," Bauch said. "We've just got to keep focusing on the little things and getting better every day.
"My biggest thing is with this group is telling them to just go out and compete and I don't think we did that today. We really were not at our best. The whole point is to come back and play better our next game."
Bauch said the Cougars are doing their best without a home field.
"It's definitely a struggle," she said. "Everywhere we go we are on a bus. But we tell the girls we can't control it. We've just to deal with it and embrace it. And they've been a good group of girls. We're just trying to figure everything out."