Note to pitchers: You can throw a changeup to Providence senior Sarah Budz and expect reasonable results at least some of the time.
Throw anything else at your own risk.
Marian Catholic pitcher Rebecca Gray found that out the hard way in Monday's East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown, won by the host Celtics 3-2.
Gray got the power-swinging Budz to wave helplessly at a change for strike three in the bottom of the fifth inning. But the rest of the battles went to Budz.
In the first inning, she socked an opposite-field home run over the fence in right field. In the third inning, she ripped an RBI single up the middle.
In the eighth inning, Budz led off and took a fastball for ball one. Then she took a changeup for a strike.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't mean to take it, I just didn't hit it," Budz said. "She's got a nice changeup. But on the next pitch, I felt [a fastball] coming."
She got it and hit a line drive that soared over the fence in right field in a hurry. It was the deciding blow in a well-played game between two teams that figure to go far in the postseason.
"We really wanted this one," Budz said. "It was a big conference game, and Marian Catholic is always nice to beat."
Chloe Oprzedek and Emily Perish each added two hits for Providence Catholic (19-7, 13-2). Perish also got the win, striking out three en route to a six-hitter.
Lauren Enyati and Teagan Walsh had RBI singles for Marian Catholic (17-5, 8-3).
The Spartans twice came from behind to force a tie. They were down 2-1 with two outs in the top of the sixth when Walsh singled up the middle with Dusty Miller (fielder's choice) on second.
While the throw in from center fielder Julie Bartosz just missed getting Miller at the plate, the speedy Walsh streaked all the way around to third base. The next batter, Natalie Ward, made good contact but lined out to shortstop Hannah Gardner.
Marian Catholic had a baserunner in the eighth inning, but Providence Catholic turned a double play to get Perish out of a potential jam. In all, Perish stranded five Spartans baserunners.
"Providence came out and did a great job today," Marian Catholic coach Kerri Evans said. "We didn't do the little things, the fundamental things you need to do to win.
"We need to get our sacrifices down and move some runners. When we're making tags, we should make good, hard tags so that there isn't any question whether she is out or safe. I mean, we were lazy on a lot of things that could have made a difference."
The two teams are to meet again at Marian Catholic on Wednesday.
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