Softball: Carmel Catholic rolls over St. Viator
Some very windy playing conditions couldn't stop visiting Carmel Catholic from getting off to a fantastic start offensively Monday afternoon in East Suburban Catholic Conference softball action at St. Viator.
Carmel senior Jordan Swiatkowski smacked a 3-run homer over the center field fence for a quick 3-0 lead, and the Corsairs never looked back as they rolled to an impressive 15-1 victory in five innings over the Lions.
Leadoff hitter Marla Walinski was hit by a pitch by St. Viator sophomore Gianna Saverino to open the game before teammate Hailie Swiatkowski singled to put runners on first and second.
Then Jordan Swiatkowski nailed a line-drive homer to center for the 3-0 advantage as St. Viator (5-11, 3-2) was never able to recover from the early deficit.
"We were just seeing the ball really well today," said Jordan Swiatkowski, who is now batting .480 on the season with 9 home runs and 34 RBI.
"I wanted to be patient because I have a tendency to be overanxious, so I was looking for a pitch to drive."
Carmel Catholic (12-5, 3-0) continued to shine at the plate when freshman Julia Shrofe (3-for-3, 2 runs) singled to lead off the top of the second.
Carmel's Allison Schiltz singled to left before teammate Allison Novak reached base on an infield error. Then an RBI double by Walinski, an RBI single by Hailie Swiatkowski, and an RBI double by Jordan Swiatkowski boosted the lead to 6-0.
"We came up against a really tough team, and they hit the ball really well," said St. Viator coach John Scotillo. "That is probably one of the better pitchers we've seen all year so I have to tip my hat to them."
The Corsairs added to their lead in the top of the third when Emily Krysa doubled down the left-field line before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scoring on an infield single by Shrofe.
Schlitz singled and scored on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Walinski before Hailie Swiatkowski's fielders choice RBI made the score 9-0.
"Sydney (Schuda) pitched really well today, Jordan got the three-run homer in the first inning, and it was hard to get one out today with the wind," said Carmel coach Shane Schueneman, whose team had 13 hits overall. "She hit a low line drive, and that was her ninth home run of the season."
Schuda doubled and scored on an RBI single by Shrofe while Caitlin Shrofe was hit by a pitch and later scored on a double steal.
The Lions had the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the second. But they had a runner picked off third base by the catcher before Schuda got the final batter to ground out to end the inning. Schuda (7-1) allowed only 4 hits while adding 4 strikeouts.
"We just came together hitting as a team, and we played good enough defense to hold them to one run," said Schuda. "Everyone was hitting up and down the lineup, and it really helped with everyone putting the ball in play."
A 3-run triple by Kyla Rapplean highlighted Carmel's 4-run fifth inning before St. Viator's Allison Ardito singled and later scored on a wild pitch to break up the shutout in the bottom of the fifth.