Softball: Hersey's MSL win streak now at 10

Hersey's longest Mid-Suburban League winning streak in more than a decade kept on cruising Tuesday afternoon in Arlington Heights.

The Huskies made it 10 straight after an 0-3 start to put themselves in the driver's seat for a third straight MSL East softball crown.

Steering the 6-0 triumph over visiting Schaumburg was senior Brianna Luciano, who fired a 3-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

The Winona State recruit also belted a 3-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to help lead Hersey to a 10-3 record in the East ahead of second-place Elk Grove (19-6, 6-5).

"It's pretty amazing," said Luciano of the Huskies' 10 consecutive league wins. "And to do it with this team makes it very special."

Luciano struck out 10 while raising her record to 8-2.

"Brianna had a huge day," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman, whose club is 16-4 overall. "She hits a lot of doubles but to see her get that home run is really exciting. It helped her stay focused on the mound. She helped herself getting a 3-0 lead and that keeps her throwing strong, too."

"Honestly, I'm more happy with the pitching than the home run," Luciano said. "My hitting has come along pretty well since the start of the season but I've struggled a little pitching. I've just been trying to find my rhythm and get back to how it felt last year. I want to do it for my team."

Also doing it for the Huskies offensively with multiple hits were Makayla Tsagalis (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Savannah Gazda (2-for-2, RBI). Ria Patel, Sarah Balitz (2B) and Chloe Gordon also had hits for the hosts.

Tsagalis' two-out 2-run triple to left center gave Hersey a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

"Makayla always sparks us," Freeman said. "She's been in that leadoff spot for four years. She knows her job and she gets it done."

"It feels really good to be finishing out strong in the MSL East," Tasagalis said. "Now we've got to focus on our next three games."

First baseman Bailitz made a nifty catch on a tricky pop up down the first-base line for the second out of the sixth inning.

"I told her (Bailitz) that was the hardest ball she had to catch all season," Freeman said. "And she made it seem smooth as butter."

Bailitz said things have gone smooth for the Huskies since they had a team meeting after the 0-3 conference start.

"We had to learn how to trust ourselves again," Bailitz said. "We bounced back in a positive way and we're on a real good run now."

"We're just chipping away every day," Freeman said. "We know every game is important and we are trying to stay focused."

Saxons sophomore pitcher Lauren Nielsen stayed focused to the tune of a career-high 10 strikeouts.

"Lauren did a really god job," said Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu. "She worked ahead in the counts and she kept their batters on their toes. It was good."

Freshman Marisa Vodicka, senior Tatiana Cooper and junior Talia Torosian had the hits for Schaumburg (8-16, 4-8).

"We held them to 3-0 for a few innings," said Torosian, the Saxons' shortstop. "Then they strung a few hits together and our energy wasn't all there. Their pitcher was good. She had good speed and movement on the ball."