LWC downs Plainfield N.
NEW LENOX -- There wasn't much of a difference between the number of hits by thehigh school softball teams from Lincoln-Way Central and Plainfield North on Monday.
But it was all of the little things that the Knights did well that turned out to be so big during their 10-0 nonconference victory in 6 innings over the Tigers.
Central (22-6) only outhit North (10-14) by a 5-2 margin but all of its players contributed to help it make the most of the 6 walks and 3 errors that came its way.
Whether it was baserunning, bunting, fielding, hitting or pitching, the Knights performed pretty well in all areas considering they were coming off of their prom weekend.
Jackie Dugan tossed a 2-hitter and struck out 9 to get the victory, Courtney Dunker provided a 2-run homer to give her team a 4-0 lead and 8 nonstarters helped score 6 runs in the sixth.
"We thought the kids might be a little tired but you expect that," Knights coach Dick Mandella said. "Jackie did a good job on the mound and we did some things from a small ball standpoint to score some runs and then we got a home run.
"Our other kids have played a lot this year and we don't wait until it's 10-0. I give those kids the opportunity to play because I have confidence in them. We get great kids who do whatever role I ask of them and that's refreshing as a coach."
The Knights began their small ball game in the second when Brittnie Boerema walked and Mary Vrablic ran for her. After Desi DeMarco sacrificed Vrablic and Gina Brown reached on an error, Dugan squeezed in the first run.
An inning later, Amanda Rafferty walked and stole second base before Cassie Redman reached on an error. Rafferty scored on a double steal involving Redman, who eventually came home on Dunker's 2-out blast to left field.
"You have to take advantage of everything, even the short game, whenever you get the opportunity," shortstop Redman said. "We had everything going today and once one person got something going everyone else seemed to keep it up.
"We had Courtney's home run that really got us going, we got bunts down and everyone did really well. This is a good team and we all mesh well together and we have fun out there. We've put in a lot of hard work and hopefully it pays off."
Dugan fanned 7 straight Tigers in the first 3 innings and only allowed a pair of infield singles, to Lianna Campos in the fourth and Nicole Norris in the sixth.
The Knights wrapped up the victory when they scored 6 times in the sixth inning, capitalizing on an error and 4 walks, including 3 straight to open the inning.
Noel Harmon singled up the middle to score Vrablic and Michelle Markelz brought home Brittany Ryan and Harmon with a single to right to make it a 7-0 game.
Redman singled to right to score Stephanie Rassman, Markelz came home on a wild pitch and Redman tallied the 10thh run following an error to wrap things up.
"I thought we played real well for 5 innings but then all of a sudden we gave them some extra baserunners and a hit here and there and it makes it look a lot different," Tigers coach George Sam said.
"They're a very good ballclub so I'm proud of my team since we hung with them. We have a young team so they have to keep learning but I like the way the kids battle and how they never give up."