Coduti's Clout Ignites Trinity Softball

Trinity softball coach Bob Osborne has so much confidence in his hitters that he doesn’t like to bunt – even in traditional sacrifice situations.

After Abby Ramirez led off the bottom of the first inning of a scoreless game with an infield hit, Osborne opted to let Ramirez steal second and Gianna Coduti swing. Coduti rewarded her coach’s faith with a two-run home run over the left-field fence.

Coduti’s clout ignited the heavy-hitting Blazers to a 9-1 triumph over neighbor Elmwood Park Wednesday at Triton College in River Grove for their 12^th consecutive victory.

It’s not every team that has a No. 2 hitter who can bunt and hit a home run.

“I can do both, I guess,” Coduti said with a smile. “I always look for the bunt (sign) just to be ready, but he didn’t give it to me. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn’t. I just have to watch.”

“We don’t bunt too much,” Osborne said. “She’s as good of a hitter as there is in the state. Gianna Coduti is phenomenal. She was due (for a homer). She has two this year. Last year in the state playoffs she homered in the supersectional and the first game downstate.

“She’s got the power. She’s starting to heat up. She’s batting over .400 right now. When she’s on, I don’t know who you pitch to. I think that’s what makes us different than a lot of teams. One to nine hit home runs.”

Indeed, Trinity (25-3) has seen nine different players homer this season.

Another sign of the Blazers’ deep offense came in the second inning when pinch-hitter Grace Cortina delivered a two-out, two-run single to make it 4-0. 

By then, Ramirez and Coduti were each 2-for-2 and scored twice. Later, Ramirez added an RBI single and Coduti scored her third run of the game.

Trinity sent out 11 hits against Elmwood Park starter Gabby Uvelli and reliever Katelyn Jakobsen. Winning pitcher Chase Machain (15-2) appreciated the offensive support.

“To know my offense is going to back me up is really reassuring,” said Machain, who helped herself by going 2-for-3 with an RBI. “When (Coduti) hit that home run, it set the tone for the game. It got us up and got us more energized.”

Machain finished with a 3-hitter. She walked one and struck out five. The only run the sophomore lefty allowed Elmwood Park (19-13) came on Kate Zucker’s homer in the fifth that made it 7-1. 

“She moved the ball around and kept them off balance,” Osborne said. “She didn’t have a ton of strikeouts, but for the most part she’s going to get bad swings.”

Trinity is feeling good these days. Part of its winning streak includes the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division Tournament title. After finishing second to Mother McAuley during the regular conference season, the Blazers defeated the Mighty Macs in the tournament championship game. They close the regular season with home games against Lyons Township Thursday and Nazareth Monday.

The Blazers finished second in Class 3A last season. This year, they’ve been bumped up to Class 4A. They’re seeded third in the Morton sectional. They open against Kennedy or Proviso East in the Reavis regional Tuesday.

“We feel ready,” Coduti said. “Last year we took second so our goal is to take first this year.”

“We look good,” Osborne said. “We’re confident. I think we’re one of those 10, 12 teams that can do it.”