Steinhilber, Hilltoppers blank Glenbard West

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:22AM

Taylor Steinhilber knew she would be the workhorse pitcher for Glenbard West this season. It was a matter of getting her hitting to come around.

The senior showed off some of her hard work at the plate this season by going 2-for-3 with three RBI as the Hilltoppers defeated Hinsdale Central 10-0 in five innings Monday in the West Suburban Silver opener for both teams in Glen Ellyn.

Steinhilber (4-2) allowed only one hit, an infield single by Jen Loiselle in the second inning. Loiselle and senior Maggie Brennan were the only players to reach base for Hinsdale Central (3-5, 0-1), which lost its fifth consecutive game. Loiselle went to second on an error and was stranded at third base. In the same inning, Brennan drew a two-out walk.

Glenbard West (8-2, 1-0) sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Bri Wyatt even had two hits in the inning with a pair of singles to center field. Her second single drove in Emily Rooney with the inning's final run.

Rooney and Wyatt each went 3-for-3 in the game, but Steinhilber (2-for-3) had a game-high three RBI with a two-run single in the first and an RBI single in the third. Her second hit, a line drive to center field, brought across sister Sarah to give Glenbard West the 10-0 lead.

"I took hitting lessons and worked hard on my hitting. I didn't hit much last year," Taylor Steinhilber said. "It's pretty much a mental thing. I've focused more on [hitting] for the team and see how we can start winning some more."

The Hilltoppers scored three more runs in the third inning. All of the runs were scored off junior pitcher Kelly MacKenzie, who allowed 16 hits, but struck out four.

Hinsdale Central has not scored in its last two games. Downers South beat the Devils 13-0 in five innings on April 13. After scoring a combined 30 runs in its first three games, Hinsdale Central has scored only two runs during its losing streak.

Brennan, the Devils' starting first baseman, wasn't even playing softball a year ago. She skipped her junior season to concentrate on basketball. She played AAU ball for Lake Forest-based Full Package, which required regular trips to Lake County for practices.

"I was there almost every day," Brennan said. "It would have been impossible to do both, and softball. It was a good experience. I did well."

But Brennan, whose older brothers Terry and Richie, played baseball, missed softball. When basketball ended, Brennan was ready to lace up the cleats again.

"I missed it a lot. I regret not playing last year," Brennan said. "I was too sad to do that [watch games]. I love softball. It was a sport that I have played my whole life."

The high school basketball season didn't turn out as Brennan had planned. The Clarendon Hills resident broke her finger in the first few weeks and missed nearly the entire season. The Devils went 3-26 and set a school record for most losses in a season.

After softball, Brennan plans on attending Butler University. She will only play intramurals there and hopes to major in communication sciences with plans on becoming a speech pathologist. She was inspired by her cousin, Matt Fischer, an individual with special needs.

Meanwhile, Brennan cherishes every remaining moment spent on the softball diamond.

"Even if it's freezing, I enjoy every game and every practice," Brennan said. "I love the team. We really click."

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