Mother McAuley knocks off Queen of Peace

Updated: April 27, 2011 11:01AM

It was almost cold enough for the snowball effect to fall out of the sky.

But as far as the double downer Mother McAuley experienced Saturday becoming something even deeper, Mighty Macs pitcher Ashley Rogers made sure that didn’t happen.

The junior right-hander kept the ball in the infield on all but a couple of occasions in Monday’s 4-1 GCAC Red win over visiting Queen of Peace.

“My team was really there to back me up (defensively). And we got going with our bats,” said Rogers, who allowed six hits but also struck out six.

Alex Raske led the way offensively with two hits, including an RBI double. Becca Schuch contributed an RBI single for the No. 4 Mighty Macs (17-4, 6-0).

Kristi Gierman rapped out two hits, including a double, and Casey Kodatt had an RBI single for Peace (4-8, 3-2).

For Raske, getting back on the field against a longtime rival was just what McAuley needed after losing 7-3 to O’Fallon and 4-3 to Minooka on Saturday.

“We were on a winning streak and I think we might have started feeling too comfortable,” Raske said. “That kind of gave us a wakeup call for today.”

Raske’s third-inning RBI shot off the fence in left drove in Erin O’Donnell with what would be McAuley’s final run of the day. It was one of only two balls hit with a real sense of authority in the damp, thick air — the other a double off the fence in right-center by Gierman for Peace.

“Usually I pull the ball, so that was no surprise,” Raske said, smiling. “I just hit it and ran.”

The inning before, the Macs scored three times, the key blows back-to-back-to-back hits by Raske, Molly Cummings and Schuch. Schuch’s hit drove in the first run against Peace, which is coached by her older sister, Nikki.

“She’ll probably be a little mad about it,” Becca Schuch said, smiling. “I’ll probably let her hear about it.”

The Pride also made two fundamental errors in McAuley’s three-run second, but improved defensively in support of pitcher Jessica Kelly. Infielders turned a pair of impressive forceouts, while from behind the plate Kodatt gunned down a would-be base-stealer.

Despite securing baserunners in all but two innings, Peace couldn’t convert, save Kodatt’s RBI single in the sixth that scored in Stephanie Rich (single).

“We played well, we were just lacking in the hitting,” Nikki Schuch said. “You’ve got to hit to win. We had some opportunities with runners on first and second, but we didn’t get hits at the right time. And that’s not going to win the game.”

No. 2 Stagg 19, Thornridge 0: Faith Johnson (3-for-3) had three runs and six RBI for host Stagg (17-1, 4-1) in the SouthWest Suburban Red. Victoria Dellorto (2-for-3) added three runs and two RBI for the Chargers in the five-inning game.

Lincoln-Way Central 5, No. 10 Lockport 1: Kylie Bennett (3 RBI) hit two homers and Gabby Boerema added two RBI for visiting Lincoln-Way Central (6-6, 1-2) in the SouthWest Suburban Blue. Nicole Walshon tossed a five-hitter for the Knights. Lockport fell to 13-5-1, 2-2.

Chicago Christian 12, Immaculate Conception 1: Lindsey Norway starred on the mound (2-hitter, 14 strikeouts) and at the plate (2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) for visiting Chicago Christian (5-8) in the Suburban Christian crossover.

Providence 9, Bishop McNamara 4: Amanda Wilson went 3-for-3 with two RBI for host Providence (7-7-1, 3-1) in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Evergreen Park 6, Argo 5: Nina Orlowski had two hits and two runs for host Evergreen Park (11-7, 8-4) in the South Suburban Red. Teresa Ziebarth had an RBI triple for the Mustangs.

Contributing: Josh Krockey

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