Cary-Grove softball defeats Woodstock

 

By JENNIFER MURRAY
The Independent

 

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The Woodstock High School softball team took an early 1-0 lead over Cary-Grove High School Thursday in Cary, but the Trojans fought back, winning the Fox Valley Conference showdown on a walk-off home run from Ellen Jesse to defeat the Blue Streaks 5-4.
“We fought hard and we came through when we needed to in this game,” WHS head coach Lisa Beard said. “I am proud of my team.”
WHS freshman Nikki Greenhill scored the first run of the game. WHS held onto a 1-0 lead until the Trojans went up 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. C-G’s Meredith Rieman hit a two-run double, helping her team take the lead.
The Trojans added an additional run in the fifth to go up 3-1 following Reiman’s RBI double. WHS stayed in the game, rallying with a three-run sixth inning to retake the lead at 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, both Greenhill and junior Taylor Schulty walked and scored following a two-run double from junior Morgan Osness. Osness then scored on senior Gina Willis’ RBI single.
“They knew they had to hit well, be focused and have a good time,” said Beard about the team’s timely hitting.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jesse had her only hit of the day, putting the Trojans back on top for good.
“C-G had a good hit at the right time,” said Beard. “We can’t win them all, but it was a tough loss, and hopefully, we can come back and beat them next time.”
Schulty battled throughout the game, striking out 11 and allowing five earned runs. Greenhill added some offense for the Blue Streaks and went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Schulty went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
WHS beat Belvidere High School 5-1 on the road April 23. In the victory, Greenhill had three hits and two runs scored while junior Abby Haubold also had three hits, including two doubles.
With the loss against C-G, the Streaks’ overall record stands at 11-7 and 2-3 in the FVC. WHS hosts Richmond-Burton Community High School at 4:30 p.m. today. The Streaks host Dundee-Crown High School at 4:30 p.m Thursday, May 1, in a conference showdown.

This article was published in the April 30, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.