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Walshon deals for Lincoln-Way Central
Updated: May 9, 2011 10:01PM
The Joliet Central softball field is surrounded by train tracks, a school bus depot and traffic on Collins Street, but noisy conditions aren’t a distraction to Lincoln-Way Central pitcher Nicole Walshon.
Walshon fanned the first five batters she faced and finished with 13 strikeouts Monday as the Knights cruised to a 13-0 SouthWest Suburban Blue victory.
“It’s kind of busy, but I blocked it out,’’ Walshon said. “It’s a weird field, the trains and stuff.’’
Walshon recovered from a shaky outing Saturday against Downers Grove North and said her screwball and curveball worked well in Monday’s six-inning victory.
“The emphasis was start ahead, stay ahead, let’s not mess around,’’ Lincoln-Way Central coach Steve Paulsen said. “She was very methodical out there, all business.’’
The offense had the same approach. Lincoln-Way Central (11-10, 6-3) scored two runs in the first and second innings, three more in the fourth and the Knights put the game out of reach with a six-run sixth inning.
Gabrielle Boerema (3-for-3, 2 runs) and Kylie Bennett (3-for-5, 3 RBI) led the offense with help from Colleen Hansen (2 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Kayla Pope (2 hits, 2 RBI).
“I feel like I’ve been hitting really well,’’ said Boerema, a sophomore shortstop. “I’ve been working all winter. I’m getting really comfortable out here.’’
Joliet Central pitcher Alex Curry, one of only three seniors on the varsity roster, used a lot of changeups to try and keep Lincoln-Way hitters off balance.
“I thought we did a great job adjusting, second time around, third time around,’’ Paulsen said. “That’s what we were talking about, adjusting in the batter’s box.’’
Next for Lincoln-Way Central is a Wednesday game against Joliet West, a makeup Thursday vs. Bolingbrook and a Friday matchup against Lockport, all home games.
“We want to try and put it together like we did earlier this year,’’ Paulsen said. “We want to try and make some noise right now.’’
Joliet Central (2-16, 0-9) is in its first varsity season in 18 years and inexperience has been a factor.
“We’re very young and every game we’ve been improving,’’ Joliet Central coach Erin Douglas said. “The beginning of the season there were a lot of errors because we’re so young. Now we’re making more of the routine plays.
“We’re not basing the year on wins and losses. We’re basing it on how much do we improve by the end of the year.’’
Douglas said Thursday’s game against Joliet West is Senior Night for Curry, shortstop Kim Benegas and outfielder Kiara Collins.
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