Ott does it all in Maine West win

Maine West junior Emily Ott did all but threw a no-hitter in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Elk Grove.

At the plate, she went 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in an RBI. On the mound, she was even better. Aside from a bunt single in the first inning – which she admitted afterward frustrated her -- she allowed no other hits in a complete-game performance.

The one run Elk Grove (3-1) was able to manage off her came on a dropped third strike.

After the game, Ott was even the one who carried the bucket of softballs to the team bus.

“Emily played phenomenally,” Maine West coach Mike Murin said.

Ott said the same of her teammates, and together, they’ve been on a roll. Since dropping their first two games of the season, the Warriors (4-2) have won four straight, including a double-header at Resurrection.

From what Ott’s noticed, she and her teammates seem to emerge in big games.

“Our attitude changes against tougher teams,” Ott said. “We play tighter and tougher.”

Maine West did just that against highly-ranked Elk Grove on Wednesday. After the Grenadiers took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, the Warriors stayed calm and stepped up their game.

Ott did her part on the mound. Aside from not allowing another hit, she only walked two batters and neither got past second base. She also struck out five.

The Warriors defense committed no errors.

Offensively, Maine West began to make its push in the fourth inning. Elk Grove starter Stephanie Maday held the Warriors to one hit through the first three innings, but in the fourth Maine West added two more hits and scored its first run when Michelle Braun drove in Ott.

In the fifth inning, Krystina Leazer replaced Maday for Elk Grove. The Warriors capitalized in that inning on an error and Margo Ehorn drove in a run.

Ott closed out the run production with a single that scored Katie Lowe in the seventh inning.

“I think as long as we keep playing hard and playing together and with wins against quality teams like Resurrection and Elk Grove [we] feel like [we] can compete against anybody,” Murin said.