Sandburg’s Olson overpowers Griffins

Updated: May 2, 2011 9:48PM

After rain and the school prom wiped out last week’s entire schedule, Lora Olson was ready to get back to the comfort and solace of the softball diamond.

“We had our fun, but it was time to get back to work,” the senior Sandburg star said.

Olson showed no signs of the extended lay off, throwing a three-hitter and striking out a season-best 12 Lincoln-Way East hitters as the No. 5 Eagles ousted the No. 10 Griffins 5-0 Monday in Orland Park.

Olson won a duel of star pitchers, registering her second shut out of the season in outdueling Lincoln-Way East ace Kacyee Hart and improving her record to 7-3. She also did not allow a walk. “I knew coming in they were a very good team, they’re good every year,” Olson said.

“I just changed my approach a little, just to stay sharp and focused, and really concentrating on throwing my kind of pitches.”

The Eagles (12-4, 4-0 SouthWest Suburban Blue) roughed up Hart at the start. They parlayed two hits, a walk and two wild pitches into the early 2-0 advantage. Senior catcher Lexi Bryant smashed a double into left field for the game’s opening run.

“We were nervous at the start, and I tried to change my speeds on her and throw a change up and [Bryant] hit it pretty good,” Hart said. Jessica Perkins followed Bryant with an RBI-single.

Hart settled in and dominated the middle innings. During one impressive stretch she retired 13 out of 14 hitters. She struck out four and allowed just two hits in 5 1/3 innings. “I realized who their batters were, and what pitches I had to throw and what not to throw,” Hart said.

As the game took the shape of a defensive oriented pitching battle, the Griffins (12-3, 3-3) had no offensive answer for Olson. The Sandburg ace threw a perfect game for 4 2/3 innings, retiring the first 11 batters until Lincoln-Way East shortstop Jorgi Calombaris reached on an infield hit.

The Griffins staged their strongest rally in the top of the sixth after Calombaris and designated hitter Aubrey DeGroot hit back-to-back singles. After a ground out advanced the runners into scoring position two outs, Olson extinguished the threat with three consecutive strikes.

“I try not to think too much about the other team or the situation I’m throwing in,” Olson said. “I just try to go straight at the hitter and attack them.”

Hart became undone in the bottom of the sixth inning after a dropped pop up helped Sandburg put the game away. Hart walked three consecutive hitters, including a pass to Olson with the bases loaded. Karissa Kouchis’s RBI ground out and Kelly Sheridan’s run-scoring single accounted for the Eagles‘ final runs.

“The walks killed us,” Hart said as her record fell to 8-3.

Sandburg has won eight of its last nine games and seized a clear advantage in the dangerous SouthWest Suburban Blue. “We’ve really bonded together as a team the last couple of weeks,” Bryant said.

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