Softball Sectional: Chicago Christian blanks Gordon Tech
By Tony Baranek tbaranek@southtownstar.com May 23, 2012 11:24PM
Updated: July 3, 2012 8:54AM
Lindsay Huisenga didn’t know a whole lot about Gordon Tech going into Wednesday’s Class 2A Chicago Christian Sectional semifinal.
The Knights senior didn’t waste much time in letting the Rams know what she was all about.
The second batter in the game, Huisenga whacked an offering from Gordon Tech pitcher Melanie Claudio down the right-field line. The hit scored teammate Mary Kate Venhuizen and sent Chicago Christian on its way to a 9-0 victory.
Huisenga would finish with two hits. Becky DeRuiter tossed a two-hit shutout as the Knights (25-9) advanced to Saturday’s sectional title game against Noble Street Charter.
Noble Street Charter pounded Cristo Rey 25-3 in the other semifinal.
Chicago Christian will be taking aim at history Saturday. A sectional title would be the first for the softball program.
“I like to set records,” Huisenga said with a smile. “I wasn’t sure at the beginning (of the season), but once we got into it more I thought we could go pretty far.”
Wednesday’s game took a quick turn Chicago Christian’s way during a five-run first inning in which Venhuizen and Ashley Quinlan drew walks, Huisenga and Megan Glynn singled and Theresa Kraiss reached on an error.
“We were just hitting the ball all over the place,” Huisenga said. “I didn’t really know anything about them, but we were hoping to play our game. We knew they had a little something to bring, but we knew if we played our A game then we would do well and come out with the victory.”
Singles by Huisenga and Quinlan keyed a two-run fifth, and DeRuiter and Venhuizen both had hits and Kaycee Pittman a sacrifice fly in a two-run sixth.
In the circle, DeRuiter faced the minimum 14 batters before Gordon Tech’s Isabel Vargas doubled with two outs in the fifth. Earlier, Glynn threw out a Rams runner trying to steal second. DeRuiter had eight strikeouts.
“It’s been going real well for me,” DeRuiter said. “I’ve just been pitching how I can, and I know if they go get hold of the ball I have seven players behind me and Megan behind the plate that I know will make the plays we need to to get the outs.”
