Softball: Pinter sisters both go yard as Prospect blanks Wheeling

Mother's Day was last Sunday so the Pinter sisters of Prospect added one belated gift on Wednesday.

Sophomore Erin and senior Amanda hit back-to-back pitches over the fence in a 5-run second inning that led to the Knights' 15-0 four-inning Mid-Suburban East softball triumph over visiting Wheeling.

"That was actually our mom's goal for the season - that we hit back-to-back home runs (which they did earlier this season)," said Erin Pinter, a sophomore who leads the Knights with 10 round-trippers this spring.

But this time, parents Sandra and Bill saw another first with the home runs on consecutive pitches.

After Erin blasted her 2-run shot some 30 feet over the left-center field fence, Amanda drove the first pitch she saw over the right field fence for her sixth homer, which tied her for second on the team with leadoff batter Carley Jagiello, who went 1-for-2 with 3 runs.

Batting third, shortstop Erin Pinter reached base all four times with 4 runs and 2 RBI while left fielder Amanda went 2-for-3 from the cleanup spot with 3 RBI and missed a 3-for-3 game thanks to a terrific shoestring grab by Wildcats left fielder Nicole Niznik.

In her five years directing the Knights, coach Krystina Mackowiak, a former standout pitcher for Elk Grove High School and Carthage College, never had sisters on her team until the Pinters.

"They're a nice little combo to have," she said. "They're killing it this season. They're both having really good seasons and I'm happy for them."

Mackowiak was also happy for sophomore pitcher Riley Depa, who tossed a 1-hitter with 4 strikeouts.

"She was awesome," the coach said. "Our other pitcher is a sophomore, too (Ashley Simon). And we have six sophomores on the team. We're very lucky. It's a good group."

The Knights (11-6, 6-2) collected 13 hits in the game, including 3 doubles in their 4-run first inning by Kathyrn Keehn (2-2, 4 RBI, 3 runs), Alexandra Garnmeister (3-for-3, 3 RBI) and Depa (2-for-3, 2 RBI).

Riley Cradduck (1-2) also had a double in the second inning.

Sam Janulis, who bats third for the Wildcats (2-9, 0-7), broke up Depa's no-hitter when she singled to center to lead off the fourth inning.

"We are just going to try to get better," said Wheeling coach Mike Caringella, who also got a nice defensive play when shortstop Janulis leapt high to snare Georgianna's Crudele's sharply hit liner and then flipped to second baseman Lexi Blumka for a double play.

"We are not giving up. We are going to keep at it and try to cut down on our mistakes."

Meanwhile, Prospect is going to try and retain possession of first place in the MSL East.

And the Pinters hope to continue with their hot bats.

"I think we kind of keep each other competitive," said Amanda Pinter, who plans to study biology at Miami University in Oxford, OH this fall. "Erin definitely pushes me to be better."

"We've got some big games ahead," said Mackowiak, whose club travels to the West Division's first-place team Barrington (20-0, 7-0) on Friday

"But we're excited."