Evanston’s Allie Managlia extended her winning streak to four games in a CSL crossover matchup between the Highland Park Giants and the Evanston Wildkits Tuesday,
This was her third game in a week where she provided the Kits with double digit strikeouts.She started out the game by shutting down the Giants’ offense.
The first batter attempted to bunt, but third baseman Maddie Reiches ran up and caught the ball before it hit the ground. Managlia then struck out the next two batters to give the Kits’ offense the chance to be the first to score.
Allie Nortz continued her hot streak by singling to right field to start the game. After Nortz stole second, Caroline Duke grounded to third, and they chose to hold Nortz at second instead of try to throw Duke out at first.
Emily Mathyer continued her hitting streak as well, singling to right field and loading the bases. After two outs, freshman Izzy Bergman came through in the clutch to make sure that the Kits did not strand all of their runners, singling to left field and driving in Nortz.
Giants’ left fielder Dylan Timmenet made a nice throw to the plate to stop the Kits from scoring a second run on the hit and end the inning.
Managlia started the second inning with a strikeout. Bergman then made a nice play to catch a line drive headed up the middle. The next two batters reached safely before Managlia struck out the last out of the inning.
The Kits offense was quiet in the bottom of the second. The Giants reached second and third once again in the top of the third inning. However, they were unable to score as Reiches and freshman Emma Maxwell made nice plays at the corner to shut down the offense.
The Kits made their lead more comfortable in the bottom of the third. Duke started the offense with a single to left field. Mathyer singled to continue the attack. The runners advanced on a passed ball and Maxwell came up with runners at second and third.
With two strikes, Maxwell doubled to centerfield to score two runs and give the Kits a two run lead. After an out, Bergman doubled to left field to bring in the third run of the inning. Jenna Ehrensaft and Allie Managlia reached base safely to load the bases with one out before Jackie Kretchmer hit a hard line drive up the middle.
However, the line drive was caught by second baseman Melissa Wagner, who stepped on second base for the double play to end the inning.
Both offenses were quiet in the fifth and sixth innings — the Kits’ defense capped by three nice plays from second baseman Bergman.
The Giants scored their run in the top of the sixth. Alex Jones led off with a double to centerfield. Caroline Schuler then singled to score Jones. Managlia got tough and struck out the next two batters, then drew a foul pop up which was caught by catcher Mathyer.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nortz started it with a single to left field. Duke then doubled to right field. Mathyer came through again with a double to score two runs.
The Kits went into the seventh with a five run lead. They shut the Giants down with two strikeouts and a flyout to right fielder Ehrensaft.