16 K’s, timely hitting spark Streaks

 

By ANDREW DREISCHARF
The Independent

 

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A game that started as a pitchers’ duel quickly became one-sided when the Woodstock High School varsity softball team hosted Lakes High School at Bates Park Wednesday.
WHS junior Taylor Schulty pitched lights-out, striking out 16 Eagles batters and surrendering just two hits in a 3-0 win for the Blue Streaks.
Schulty battled through most of the game in pain after being drilled by a pitch while batting in the bottom of the first inning. The pitch hit her in her non-throwing arm. She shook it off and stayed in the game.
“It hurts for a second, but then you have to keep going,” said Schulty. “It did sting, though. She really got me.”
The Streaks’ defense and Schulty’s pitching didn’t allow an opposing runner to advance past second base, allowing only three base runners on two hits and one error.
“My team did well,” said Schulty. “It was nice. They played good defense and scored runs.”
The game remained tied at 0-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Streaks put two runners on. Schulty reached base on an error, and junior Morgan Osness walked. Senior Tiffany Chamberlain advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt.
With runners on second and third, senior Leah Furlano came through, hitting a two-out double past the shortstop and scoring both Schulty and Osness, giving WHS a 2-0 lead.
“It was very important to get those runs,” said Furlano. “It was good timely hitting.”
In the fifth inning, the Streaks got more timely hitting. With one out, freshman Nikki Greenhill slapped a single to left field and sophomore Abby Haubold doubled to the outfield. With two outs, Osness smacked a double that scored Greenhill, increasing the WHS lead to 3-0.
Schulty retired three straight in the top of the seventh to pick up the complete game shutout and send the Blue Streaks to 5-3 on the season.
“It’s always nice when they pick you up,” Schulty said of her teammates. “I didn’t think I’d do this well today, because in warmups, I wasn’t hitting my spots.”
Schulty was dominant with her pitching the whole game striking out the side three times. Fourteen of her 16 strikeouts were swinging strikeouts.
“Any win is a good win, but this was also a nice win,” said Schulty.
WHS head coach Lisa Beard agreed with her winning pitcher.
“Wins are so important,” said Beard. “Our goal before the season was to win 20 games, which we haven’t done in a while. We’re already a quarter of the way, and that’s great.”
Most of all, Beard was proud of her team and of their clutch hitting.
“We usually count on our pitching,” said Beard. “It feels good to get timely hitting and I’m proud of Leah (Furlano) too.”
All of the Streaks’ hits came in the third through fifth innings. Greenhill led WHS with two hits and a stolen base.
The Streaks continue their season at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Crystal Lake South in a Fox Valley Conference showdown.
“We’ve had pretty close games so far,” said Beard. “It’s all coming together.”

This article was published in the April 16, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.