Softball: Downers Grove South sweeps Willowbrook
The Downers Grove South softball team swept the series Monday against Willowbrook with a 9-3 victory and sits atop the West Suburban Gold with a two-game lead.
The Mustangs left their field optimistic about what lies ahead the rest of the regular season and postseason. And the Warriors feel the same way.
"The kids are playing well. We look forward to the rest of conference and the postseason," said Downers Grove South coach Jim Cushing.
The two teams met for the first time this season Saturday with the Mustangs (19-2, 7-0) winning 4-1.
Obviously, the two games were crucial to the conference race. But Cushing said the team is focused on the overall picture, being prepared to play and getting the win no matter the opponent. He said that was difficult during the recent weather-related layoff.
"We take it one game at a time. You didn't know what the weather might be and it was tough to be mentally ready, all those rainouts," the Mustangs coach said. "But we're back, the kids adjusted and are swinging hot bats."
Downers South finished with 11 hits and got to work immediately in their half of the first. With one out Sydney Rau singled to right. Then with two outs Kaitlyn Wilson blasted a home run over the rightfield fence to drive in Rau.
Wilson is hitting over .600 so far this season.
"I'm fueled by my team," she said. "We support each other so much and I think this is the most we've bonded as a team."
After Willowbrook (13-7, 5-2) scored the game's first run on Emma Barrington's double, which drove in Annemarie Knudtson, who had singled, the Warriors took a 3-2 lead in the third on Amy Bussa's 2-run homer, with two outs. That scored Knudtson, who had doubled.
After that inning Downers South winning pitcher Randi McKay set the Willowbrook lineup down in order the next three innings to help her get the win. She struck out 11.
"I wasn't using my lower level (legs) enough. I made the adjustment," McKay said.
The Mustangs retook the lead in the fourth with a burst of five runs on five hits. An RBI double by Rau, a 2-run single by Maggie Greco and RBI singles from Daly Garland and Brynn Dvorcek sparked the inning.
A 2-run single by Amelia Jiminez in the sixth put the finishes touches on the victory for Downers South.
Willowbrook coach Rachel Karos has been very happy with the play of the Warriors, especially recently.
"Saturday we put the ball in play. Today, it was a little bit better. We made some defensive plays and there were others that we should have made. But the plays we made would not have happened two weeks ago," she said.