GBS Softball: Titans Fall to Elk Grove in Home Opener

After spending time down in Florida during spring break, h's softball team received a big reminder that everything won’t always be so sunny.

The lady Titans managed only three hits against Elk Grove pitching as the Grenadiers ran away with a 14-1 victory.

“It was a wake-up call for us,” Glenbrook South coach Kay Sopocy said. “We did not play well. We let some balls get out of the infield and it kind of set the tone and we were just a little off compared to how we usually play.”

A mercy rule loss wasn’t how the Titans envisioned their home opener. Last year Glenbrook South defeated Elk Grove in an early-season matchup, but things played out differently on Monday.

The Grenadiers jumped on Glenbrook South senior pitcher Maddy Stark early, scoring four runs in the first inning and adding six more in the second.

“We went in thinking we were going to play pretty well and I thought I could pitch at least decently against them,” said Stark, who will play at Kenyon College next season. “At some moments I guess my pitches didn’t break.”

A couple defensive miscues from Glenbrook South’s infield and an “illegal pitch” call helped Elk Grove break the game open in the second inning. After allowing three runs, Stark thought she escaped trouble with a strikeout of  Elk Grove’s Kristen Cetkovic. But the second-base umpire called an illegal pitch and the Grenadiers capitalized with three more runs.

Glenbrook South’s offense was largely held at bay by Elk Grove’s strong pitching. Dani Goranson struck out eight of the nine batters she faced before being lifted in the fourth inning.

But the Titans kept battling and Stark recorded Glenbrook South’s first hit, beating out the throw to first after hitting a slow dribbler just in front of home plate.

“If they keep getting up there, battling, having good at bats and get down on the ball, put forth their best effort then that’s all you can ask for,” Sopocy said.

Glenbrook South’s only run came courtesy of centerfielder Kim Lohre, who belted a home run to right field leading off the fifth inning.

Alyssa Strapko had the Titans’ only other hit of the afternoon – a two-out double in the fifth inning. Stark pitched all five innings for Glenbrook South, striking out two Elk Grove hitters.

The Titans get right back in action when they play at Niles North April 5 at 4:45 p.m. And Coach Sopocy hopes her team will be ready.

“If you’re going to win conference and succeed in post season play, those are the kinds of teams you play and we need to step up our game."