Softball: Sharlau powers Hersey over Conant

In four at-bats on Friday, Brooke Sharlau either got on base or got someone home from third base.

The Hersey junior third baseman went 2-for-2 with a pair of sacrifice RBI fly outs to finish with 4 RBI as the Huskies prevailed 13-1 in six innings over visiting Conant in the Mid-Suburban League softball crossover.

"Brooke had a really good day," said classmate Livia Christopher, who caught junior Sabrina's DiVito's 3-hitter. "Her RBI (sacrifice fly to left) was a really nice way to start for us."

Sharlau's RBI tied the game at 1-1 after Conant scored its only run in the top of the inning when senior Janessa Gonzalez walked and eventually came home on an error.

In the bottom of the first, Christopher led off with a triple down the right field line before Sharlau's fly out to left drove her home.

Christopher smacked a second straight triple, this one to the right center field gap, with one out in the third inning.

Sharlau came to the batter's box and once again lifted a fly ball to left field. However, this one sailed over the fence for a 2-run homer and the Huskies were on their way, scoring once in the fourth, three times in the fifth and six in the sixth.

"Brooke just got under the first one a little bit," said Christopher about Sharlau's sacrifice fly in the first. "And her second one (over the fence) was a really good hit."

In all, the Huskies had 9 hits as they improved 12-3 and 5-2 in the MSL East.

Amanda Frankenberger went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI while DiVito had a double and pinch-hitter Sam Sok clouted her first homer of the season, a 3-run blast over the center field fence to end the game.

"Sam comes into games to pinch hit, run and play the outfield," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman of the junior. "It's always nice to win on your home field and Sam giving us the walk off homer was really nice, especially to beat the rain (which had just started in the bottom of the sixth)."

DiVito raised her record to 12-3, throwing 4 strikeouts to Christopher.

"She (DiVito) is doing a great job leading the team," said Christopher, a Boston University recruit. "She is our powerhouse and getting it done for us."

"Sabrina and Livia worked great again as our battery," Freeman said. "Livia is always making plays back there, too, and Sabrina loves throwing to her, so it makes for a nice duo. Also, we've been talking about hitting throughout the game and not just one inning so it was nice to see so many bats come through and be alive for us."

Christopher's bat has been on a tear.

"She went 4-for-4 against Buffalo Grove and then had a ton of hits against Wheeling," Freeman said. "Her bat has been on fire. She's terrific. She's just a real talent. She is committed with her skills and play. She is getting better every day and we are just fortunate to have her back behind the plate."

Riya Patel, pitcher Natalie Spaitis and Grace Valenzia had the hits for Conant (4-7-1, 3-5).

Spaitis had to leave the game in the fifth inning when a hit up the middle bounced off her leg.

"Conant is a very good team and it was unfortunate to see their pitcher get hurt like that," Freeman said.

The Huskies are now tied for first in the East with Buffalo Grove (10-3, 5-2).

"This was a good win for us," Freeman added. "We really wanted to come out and make headway in the conference."

Freshman Charlotte Wolf replaced Spaitis on the mound for only her third appearance this spring.

"I think Natalie just has a bruise on her leg and we made the decision to go with our only other pitcher," said Cougars former standout shortstop and coach Allie Bauch. "We've been kind of getting the lead early like we did today (1-0) and then getting content with the game. We've just got to get back at it next week."