Softball: Allen clutch for Naperville Central
What athlete doesn't want to be the hero of the game with a clutch hit that wins the contest?
Naperville Central junior shortstop Katlyn Allen was mobbed by her teammates after she hit a 2-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Redhawks a 6-5 softball victory Monday over visiting Neuqua Valley on senior day.
Allen struck out the first two times at-bat but then made contact in the fifth with a long flyball to right that was caught.
She said the support of the team helped her as she went to the plate in the seventh. Allen was just looking to make contact.
"My teammates were encouraging me to have in it my head at the next at-bat to help the team get ahead. I was looking to do something small," Allen said.
The big inning for Naperville Central started when Raegan Purl reached on a fielding error. Winning pitcher Halle Arends then doubled to right. It was Arends' second hit and fourth time on base.
Neuqua's second fielding error of the inning put Katie Gutsell on base and scored Purl. That set the stage for Allen.
"For the first six innings, I thought it was a classic game. In the top of the seventh, we were the team that we used to be. In the bottom of the seventh, we were the team we are now," said Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum.
Naperville Central (14-15) never trailed by more than 2 runs, and Nussbaum said that was critical.
"Neuqua Valley is a real good hitting team, and I was glad we were able to stay kind of close," he said.
The Wildcats (15-8) took a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh. With one out Abby Meeks doubled down the right-field line. She later scored on a dropped third strike that put Bailey Clarke on base. She later scored on a wild pitch.
"We were making contact and got some clutch hits. We were ahead 5-3 and our defense did not make the plays," said Neuqua coach Christina Chrencik.
In addition to Allen's big hit in the seventh, she made two top-notch defensive plays. One was a running catch of a flyball in short left to start the seventh and she threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth.
"I feel confident about my defense. I liked running after the ball. Anything I can do to help the team," Allen said.
The game made the last week of the regular season in the DuPage Valley Conference softball race interesting. First-place Neuqua is now 7-2, Naperville Central is right behind at 6-3.
The Wildcats host Metea Valley on Tuesday, Naperville North on Thursday and travel to Waubonsie on Friday.
Naperville Central, meanwhile, will finish a suspended game before a regular game Tuesday at home against Waubonsie Valley and then will travel to the Warriors' field on Wednesday.
Neuqua scored the game's first run in the second. Alana Batista tripled to right and scored on a Hannah Meeks infield hit bunt.
The Wildcats took a 2-0 advantage in the fourth. Chloe Steinhaus reached on a fielder's choice and Carina Martinez drove her in with a single.
The Redhawks responded in the bottom of the inning with Jacqui Abogado's home run.
Naperville Central took a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Arends walked and Gutsell singled. Both scored on the same wild pitch.
Neuqua put a 3-3 deadlock on the contest in the sixth Kelsey O'Connor doubled for her second of three hits on the afternoon. Martinez's single brought her home.