Softball: Schuda's lights-out effort lifts Carmel past Mundelein

Sydney Schuda shines in prime-time. Not that the Carmel Catholic pitcher takes time to think about the bright lights at Community Park.

"It's all the same to me," said Schuda, a senior righty. "It's dirt. It's a field. We just got to play."

For the second year in a row, Carmel and Mundelein played each other in a softball game that didn't require a short, there-and-back trip down Hawley Street. They ventured over to Community Park for a Friday night game under the lights and, like year, the game proved to be a pitcher's duel.

Carmel avenged last year's extra-inning loss by beating Mundelein 1-0, as Schuda and Mustangs ace Kira Buckner combined to strike out 25 batters and allow 6 hits.

Carmel improved to 19-8, while Mundelein fell to 13-11.

Schuda, who struck out a career-high 16 strikeouts last year at Community Park but lost to Bre Adams (North Central College) by a 2-1 final in eight innings, scattered 3 singles and fanned 11 (1 walk).

"She is an amazing pitcher," said Buckner, who played third base in last year's crosstown game and faced Schuda for the first time. "She works her corners, and she has great movement. You can see she deserves that spot, and today she deserved that win. She did awesome."

Buckner struck out 14 and walked three in her 6 innings. She too gave up only 3 hits, but two were in the bottom of the third when Carmel scored the game's only run. Marla Walinski led off with an opposite-field single to right field, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Schuda's sharply hit single into center field with two out.

"I think she threw a really good game," Schuda said of Buckner. "On my hit, I was just looking for one pitch, and I took her low pitch. It's what I was looking for."

It was Buckner's first extended action in the circle in about two weeks. The junior is recovering from stress reaction in her right (throwing) forearm.

"It's not too bad," Buckner said. "I'm able to pitch, which I'm so beyond grateful for because it's my heart and joy. Pitching is everything to me. I'm just happy that I can contribute."

Buckner is one of her team's best hitters, but she hasn't been batting for more than a week because of her injury. The Mustangs are also without freshman catcher Kellie Shanahan (concussion protocol), who's another strong hitter. Danielle Lambert, Cheyenne Pellettiere and Emma Hallin had Mundelein's only hits.

"We've been really piecing together a lineup," Mustangs coach Heather Ryan said. "It showed tonight. We just couldn't put the bat on the ball. We weren't very aggressive."

Jordan Swiatkowski, who has 13 home runs this season, struck out swinging her first two times up. She then roped a double into right-center leading off the bottom of the sixth but was stranded at third after Buckner struck out the side for the third time.

"Their pitcher was good tonight," Carmel coach Shane Schueneman said. "We should take better approaches at the plate, but she pitched a good game. You can't take it away from her."

Mundelein put the tying run on base with two out in the seventh, but catcher Swiatkowski picked her off first base to end the game.

"I think the difference between this year and last year was that we came out a little more focused," Schuda said. "We obviously still didn't hit very well, but I think it was all mental."