West Chicago edges out Redhawks

Updated: May 16, 2011 9:44PM

Career win No. 501 for Naperville Central softball coach Andy Nussbaum would have been ideal against West Chicago Monday.

Instead, West Chicago coach Kim Wallner and the rest of the Wildcats earned win No. 16 this season after beating the Redhawks 1-0 in nine innings in a critical DuPage Valley Conference contest between the league’s two best teams at Pioneer Park in West Chicago.

“It would have been very nice to get 501 today, but we’ll bounce back,” Nussbaum said. “I think we have a chance to do a lot of good things with this team.”

If Naperville Central (20-8, 10-3) beat West Chicago (16-9, 9-2), it would have earned no less than a share of the DVC title. The Wildcats still have to finish their league game with West Aurora, play Naperville North and Wheaton Warrenville South this week. The Redhawks host Glenbard North on Wednesday in their conference finale game.

The Redhawks haven’t won the DVC in 22 years. Despite the loss against West Chicago, their chances are not completely dashed just yet.

“We definitely have to get right back in it and take care of business Wednesday,” said Naperville Central pitcher Alyssa Wunderlich, who gave up six hits and 10 strikeouts in the tough loss against the Wildcats. “After that, it’s a new start in the playoffs. Nobody remembers who won conference, they remember who goes to state.”

“There’s a battle here still,” Wallner added. “We have three (conference) games left...we still have a long way to go this week, but we are happy to get this one.”

It was tough for Naperville Central to beat West Chicago, considering ace Mary Connolly (14-6) threw a no-hitter. The Wildcats’ run was scored when Connolly led the bottom of the ninth off with a walk. She moved to third on a one-out double by Rachael Venchus and scored the game winner on a passed ball.

“These things happen, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort,” said Nussbaum, whose team beat West Chicago 1-0 earlier this season. “It was a classic matchup between two tremendous pitchers....we also had opportunities we did not cash in on.” The Redhawks, who had limited opportunities with the no-hitter, left three on base, including one on second base in the top of the ninth.”

In his 28th year at Naperville Central, Nussbaum has seen his shares of wins and losses in that manner. He earned win No. 500 on Saturday in a 4-0 nonconference win against Stagg in Game 2 of a doubleheader.

“We have a really good team this year,” Nussbaum said. “We have a pitcher (Wunderlich) who is pitching as well right now as any pitcher I’ve had in the 28 years I’ve been doing this, a shortstop (Kelsey Gonzalez) who is the best shortstop we’ve ever had, a leadoff hitter (Nicole Kappelman)...I can think of one hitter in 28 years who puts as much pressure on the defense as our leadoff does now. It’s pretty gratifying now to have 500 wins.”

Nussbaum doesn’t exactly recall how he earned his first-ever win, but win No. 100 was against Naperville North in 1989. Win No. 200 was at Plainfield in 1997. The 300th win was the last regular season game in 2002 and 400 was done at home against Glenbard East in 2007.

“It’s very awesome to be a part of this team,” Wunderlich said of this season. “I remember watching when (Nussbaum) got his 400th win, when my sister (Natalie) was on the team, so 500 is really awesome for him. It shows what a great coach he is.”

Nussbaum and Wallner both coach girls varsity basketball as well and have known one another for more than 25 years. This season, however, is Wallner’s first with softball.

“Andy and I have had some battles,” Wallner said. “He’s had a lot of success in all sports he has coached. He’s a good one.”

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