L-Way Central crashes the party

Updated: April 30, 2011 10:12PM

Welcome back to the party, Lincoln-Way Central.

Nearly forgotten just a week ago, the Knights have regrouped and crashed the SouthWest Suburban Blue bash with a trio of huge wins since Monday.

The latest was a 3-2 victory over Lincoln-Way East, on Saturday.

Kylie Bennett sparked the offense with a two-run homer, her fourth of the week, and Nicole Walshon did the rest in the circle as Central improved to 8-7 and 3-2 in the SWSC Blue.

“I’m glad to get the invite,” Central coach Steve Paulsen said. “The girls did an remarkable job of staying focused this week.”

The Knights started the stretch with a 5-1 win at Lockport on Monday. After a 12-6 loss to Beecher on Thursday, they handed Homewood-Flossmoor its first league loss 8-3 on Friday and then put the East in the loss column for only the second time this season.

“To beat Lockport got our confidence up,” Walshon said. “It got us rolling. But to beat East, that’s my favorite. I mean they’re our rivals.”

Walshon (8-3) came up with the her biggest pitches in the first inning. Jill Reid led off the game with a single to center and sophomore right fielder Carissa Ernat followed with a deep triple to right and the Griffins (12-2, 3-2) had a quick 1-0 lead.

But Walshon coaxed two infield pop-ups and a ground out to escape the inning with just the run.

“Afterward I asked the kids what the biggest play was and the first reaction was to say Kylie’s home run,” Paulsen said. “But I told them it was Nicole getting out of the first with just one run. She has stepped up and responded to become a senior team leader.”

Bennett took advantage of her opportunity in the bottom of the first. With one out, Gabby Boerema walked and Bennett boomed a 2-1 offering over the center field fence for a two-run homer, her eighth of the season, and Central was on top to stay at 2-1.

Boerema walked again to lead off the bottom of the third. That chased East starter Kacyee Hart (8-2), who re-entered in the circle after 11/3 inning on the bench. In the meantime Jamie Haubenreiser (2-for-3) had a first-pitch single with two outs off Sarah Esposito to score Boerema and make it 3-1.

The Griffins got a run back in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Reid tripled to left center, and Ernat singled up the middle to make it 3-2.

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