Lake Central’s Haskins makes key play in win

Updated: May 4, 2011 11:53PM

ST. JOHN — The incredible play Lake Central second baseman Jess Haskins made didn’t make SportsCenter’s Top 10 Wednesday night.

It definitely was good enough to qualify.

Chesterton had runners at second and third base in the fifth inning with one out and the game tied 1-1, when Haskins came up with her amazing grab — snagging a lined shot off Sydney Cooley’s bat that the Indians turned into a double play.

“That’s as good of a play as I’ve ever seen,’’ Lake Central coach Jeff Sherman said. “It was good, not only because it was a great play, but because it was a game-changing play. Cooley really got the bat on the ball and Jess just made a great play. I thought that one was ticketed for center field.’’

Without Haskins’ play, Chesterton (12-6, 7-3) would have scored at least one, possibly two runs, and maybe could have ended up winning the game and tying LC (18-5, 9-1) for the Duneland Athletic Conference lead.

Instead, it was LC that emerged with a 2-1 win as junior Kaitlyn Ranieri drove in what proved to be the game-winning run, with a one-out triple in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“I really wanted to get a good hit,’’ Rainieri said. “I knew we needed that run.’’

Rainieri’s hit should have been limited to a single, but Cooley tried to make a diving catch and missed, and the ball rolled behind her.

“We tell the kids all the time that we don’t dive for balls headed down the lines,’’ Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “In her defense, though, she only plays left field part-time.’’

The Trojans also cut off a throw in the infield costing them a run. And, of course, there was that Haskins web gem.

“Without any of those three (plays), the game could have went the other way,’’ Hopson said.

Ranieri, who plays center field, was amazed by the play Haskins made.

“That probably was the best play I’ve ever seen,’’ she said. “She was stretched out and parallel to the ground.’’

If Haskins was excited about the play she made, she didn’t let it show.

“It happened so fast,’’ she said. “I thought it (ball) was at a good level. I thought it was 50-50 (if I’d get it). I usually play up the middle. I just reacted fast and went up and got it. If I didn’t, who knows?’’

Morgan Franovich picked up the win for Lake Central in relief of starter, Lily Del Toro.

The junior went 2 2/3 innings, allowing only one hit, while striking out two.

Sophomore Megan Tymorek was the hard-luck loser for Chesterton. She allowed only five hits in six innings.

“I thought she did a real nice job,’’ Hopson said.

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