Two-out extravaganza
MORRIS -- Two-out walks are not nearly as dangerous as two-out doubles, but for Lincoln-Way Central High School junior Desi DeMarco, both ingredients Monday stirred the pot like a pairing of Rachael Ray with Wolfgang Puck.
After Morris rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the third inning, DeMarco helped demolish a 2-2 deadlock in the top of the fourth -- the center fielder developing into the center of attention at the plate by walking on four pitches and scoring the go-ahead run.
(Michael R. Schmidt/STNG)
It was like a 3D slogan.
Desi DeMarco gets it Done.
"Yeah, usually they try to come back when you get that third ball," she said. "You're almost expecting a strike. It was odd getting another ball, but I'd take it because when it's that close of a game, you just want to get on base, and that's what you're looking for -- anybody to get on base so the next person can get up and hit you in."
Beginning with DeMarco in the sixth spot, the Generation Next of Lincoln-Way Central softball hit the host Redskins with a .600 whammy. DeMarco walked and also doubled, scored and marked 2 RBIs, dashing the Knights to a 6-2 nonconference victory.
Sophomore third baseman Gina Brown (run, double) and junior outfielder Jackie Dugan (run, RBI) each went 2-for-3 as the bottom of the order for Lincoln-Way Central (26-8) closed 6-for-10 with 4 runs, 2 walks and a sacrifice. Dugan earned the save, tossing 3 innings of 3-strikeout scoreless relief.
While senior shortstop Cassie Redman, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi recruit, led at 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and Illinois-bound senior pitcher Gabe Gavoni (13-1) gained the win, DeMarco cooked up the Knights' best batch, roasting a 2-RBI two-bagger in the fifth that built up a 5-2 advantage.
It was as vivid as 3D.
Desi DeMarco Doubles.
"Desi has been consistent all year long," Lincoln-Way Central coach Dick Mandella said. "Gina really struggled last week, hanging her head, so I took her aside and talked to her. To her credit, she dominated Saturday with three hits, and Jackie had a great week. She was hitting less than .200 and got herself up to about .250."
"There's usually a stereotype for being at the bottom of the order, that you're not the strongest hitters on the team," Dugan said. "But as a team, I think we totally contradict that idea. Our bottom of the order comes through just as good as the top of the order does."
That top of the order answered in the third when the agile Redman, batting second, sliced a 2-2 offering up the middle for a 2-RBI single. Her hit plated Brown, who led off with a double to right-center, and senior second baseman Amanda Rafferty, who fisted a single to the third-base line.
"We played small ball," Redman said, referring to the Knights scoring all 6 runs with two outs. "Everyone worked as a team and we got it done, and it's fun. That's what I love and that's the fun part of the game, when the game is close and being in that two-out, two-strike situation. I can't explain it."
What happened to Morris (16-14) and senior right-hander Angie McVey (11-11) qualified as unexplainable. The Redskins rocked for 4 hits and
resiliently manufactured the 2-2 tie during the third, with McVey strong-arming 5 of her 6 strikeouts through the first 4 innings.
Although sophomore second baseman Hilary Bunting and junior outfielder Stef Noethe each singled and scored, sophomore DH Kelsey Schluntz and McVey singled and junior outfielder Lauren Hanford and freshman shortstop Layne Miller landed a couple of walks, Morris' momentum dissipated as Dugan used the theme of an Alka-Seltzer commercial.
Pop, pop. Fizz, fizz.
"They got a lot of two-out hits that helped them out toward the end of the game and we just stopped hitting after the fourth," Morris coach Amy Barr said. "They brought in (Dugan) and we didn't adjust to her. We didn't touch her, we didn't handle her very well, but give them credit. They hit some great pitches."
After DeMarco's grate two-out walk, Brown poked a single toward the left-field line and Dugan drilled an RBI single to left-center for the 3-2 lead. In the fifth, senior outfielder Courtney Dunker reached on a two-out error and senior catcher Brittnie Boerema looped a single to left, followed by DeMarco's drive to right-center.
Pop, pop. Drop, drop.
"Angie did a nice job of getting the ball inside and they blooped a few right over the third baseman," Barr said. "It's a hard one to defend against, and Angie threw good changeups that they went down and got. They just hit the ball well."
"Well, I came up to bat with two strikes and I was just looking for anywhere in the strike zone to hit the ball," DeMarco pointed out. "It ended up going in our favor, both girls scored, and that hit helped us out a lot."
With two outs in the third, Morris also helped itself. Noethe led off with a slap single to left and Bunting bounced a sharp single to center. An error brought in Noethe to cut the deficit to 2-1. After a wild pitch, Bunting and McVey completed a double steal for the 2-2 tie.
"We executed well," Barr said. "It's like when Kelsey got on (with a roped single to right to lead off the fourth) and we were able to put the sacrifice bunt down. That's going to be the stuff that will help us going into the playoffs, and hopefully we can keep doing that well."
In the top of the sixth, the Knights secured water again from their two-out well, with Dugan lining an infield single to third, senior outfielder Aly Holzhauer producing the sacrifice bunt and Redman grounding an RBI single to right to culminate a crisp 6-run, 4-inning stretch.
Afterward, Mandella acknowledged the need for second-seeded Lincoln-Way Central to be even crisper for today's Class 4A regional semifinal against SouthWest Suburban Conference rival Homewood-Flossmoor, a 10-0 quarterfinal winner over Thornridge. According to Redman, the Knights' No. 6 hitter hit crisper than KFC.
It was as decisive as 3D.
Desi DeMarco Delivers.
"We love it," Redman said. "We love the pressure. Everyone works up for it and everyone gets the job done when it's their turn, and it was Desi's turn today."
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