Prep Softball: Falcons Drop Heartbreaker to Glenbard West in Extra Innings

Everything was lining up Wheaton North’s way in the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday against nonconference opponent Glenbard West.

Although trailing 5-4, the Falcons had the bases loaded with one out. Then as quickly as 1-2-3, it was over.

A Wheaton North batter hit a ground-ball bullet right back to Hilltoppers’ pitcher Taylor Steinhilber, who started a pitcher to catcher to first double play that ended the game and made the 5-4 score stand.

Prior to Tuesday’s defeat, the Falcons (12-9) appeared to be righting the ship following four straight DVC losses . They beat Glenbard North last Friday to end the skid, and posted another triumph over the Panthers on Saturday.

Then on Monday, Kahla Nolan pitched a one-hit shutout and Paige Evangelista homered as the Falcons upended West Aurora 1-0. (Nolan had a perfect game going into the final inning.)

Coach Karen Calabrese attributes the Falcons’ recent difficulties to a.) playing tentative and b.) a lack of confidence.

“A (Glenbard West) girl with wheels puts down a bunt and we’re backing off on the ball,” Calabrese said to illustrate her point. “We’re playing tentative; we’re playing with a lack of confidence and not making the adjustment. It took us until the fifth inning (Tuesday) to make the adjustment. You’ve only got three innings to go so we’ve got to take advantage earlier and jump on these teams earlier.”

Senior shortstop put Wheaton North on the board in the first inning. Glenbard West’s left fielder dove for Wilson’s sinking liner down the line, but the ball skipped past her and Wilson raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.

Glenbard West (18-5) plated two runs in its half of the second to take the lead. The Hilltoppers then upped their advantage to 4-1 with two more runs in the fifth.

That fifth inning which Calabrese referred to earlier saw Wheaton North capitalize on three Hilltopper errors to score three runs and tie the game. Evangelista singled to start the inning and later scored on Maureen Denhof’s sacrifice fly.

Annie Thomas, who reached base on an infield error, came around to score on a throwing error after Tiffany Gaimari laid down a bunt single. Nolan, who pinch-ran for Wheaton North starting pitcher Katie Thornton (Thornton singled), scored the game-tying run on another Glenbard West throwing error.

“This is what we’ve been doing; we’ve been coming out flat,” Calabrese said. “It took us until the fifth inning to figure it out. You’ve got to figure it out before the fifth inning. We’ve got to start making strides in the right direction. We take a step forward and three steps back.”

Nolan took over on the mound for Thornton with two outs in the sixth and left two Glenbard West baserunners stranded by striking out Kelly Borneman. Thornton pitched 6 2/3 innings and struck out six.

The Hilltoppers scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the eighth. Michele Waggoner walked to lead off the inning and ended up at third on a throwing error following a sacrifice bunt by Maddie Morris. Waggoner trotted home on Sarah Steinhilber’s single up the middle.

In the game-deciding bottom of the eighth, Wilson—who had three hits on the day—and Kelsey Ullrich led off with singles. Then, with one out, Evangelista, who also had three hits, singled to load the bases. And that’s where the threat ended.

“You’ve got to give them (Glenbard West) credit,” Calabrese said. “They hustled. They’re laying it out; they’re taking advantage of extra bases. They kept a pretty good intensity level all game and that’s what we’re lacking.”

Weather permitting, the Falcons will be in action every day through Saturday. They host Wheaton South on Wednesday, travel to St. Charles East and Naperville Central on Thursday and Friday, respectively, and visit Lyons Township for a doubleheader Saturday.