WHS softball team drops rainy home opener

 

By ANDREW DREISCHARF
The Independent

 

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In a home-opener of sorts, the Woodstock High School softball team dropped a tough game to visiting Harlem High School Thursday at a rain-soaked Bates Park. The Blue Streaks did not play on their home field due to concerns about field conditions after the recent inclement weather.
Harlem jumped on the scoreboard early, scoring a run in the top of the first inning to take a quick 1-0 lead.
The Blue Streaks had a hard time getting it going at the plate. Junior Taylor Schulty got a hit for the Streaks in the first inning, but the rest of the batting order was shut down until the sixth inning, when sophomore Abbey Haubold notched a triple.
“Our bats were very cold,” said WHS head coach Lisa Beard. “We need to hit better if we want to win, but our defense looked pretty good.”
The Huskies took advantage of the Streaks’ lack of hitting by using strong defense and good pitching on the way to the win.
The non-conference loss dropped the Blue Streaks to 1-2 on the season.
Junior Morgan Osness pitched well for the Streaks, striking out four before leaving the game in the fifth inning when she was struck by a line drive in her right ankle. Freshman Nikki Greenhill moved from right field to take over pitching duties.
Osness was carried off the field by WHS athletic director Glen Wilson and assistant coach Steve Beard and appeared to be fine after the game. She played in Saturday’s tournament also held at Bates Park.
“I thought (Osness) did a pretty good job pitching,” said Beard. “They had some pretty solid hits against her, but overall she pitched well.”
In the fifth inning, drizzle turned into a downpour, and in the bottom of the sixth inning, the game was called with the Huskies leading 4-0, giving Harlem the victory.
Going into the tournament, the Streaks knew they needed to score and play better defense in order to win games.
“If we can’t score any runs, we will have a hard time winning, so that is something we will continue to work on in practice,” said Beard. “It has been hard on everyone with all of the schedule changes and practices being indoors, but we will do the best we can with the situation.”
On Saturday, the Streaks brought their A-game. In the first game, Schulty battled Harvard High School’s Grace McCauley in a pitchers’ duel. The game went into the eighth inning scoreless before the Streaks won the game 2-0. Schulty upped her record to 1-1 with the win.
In the second game, the Streaks topped Jefferson 13-0 in five innings. In the final game of the day, Woodstock lost to Naperville North, 3-1 in a close game. The Streaks improved their record to 3-3 after going 2-1 in the tournament. Also participating in the tournament was Crystal Lake South High School, which went 1-1 on the day.
The Streaks play at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at home against Lakes High School. Games follow Thursday, April 10, at home against Huntley High School beginning the Fox Valley Conference season, and then on the road Friday, April 11, at Crystal Lake Central High School. The Streaks hope to return to Emricson Park this week for their home games.

This article was published in the April 9, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.