The Evanston Township High School Wildkits came out on a tear, defeating Taft 11-1 in five innings at home today.
By comparison, last year the Wildkits only managed to beat Taft by one run in extra innings.
In the top of the first, the Eagles scored one run on two hits and a sacrifice fly. The Kits came right back when they had offensive opportunity.
Jenna Ehrensaft got on base to start the game and Izzy Bergman singled to put runners at first and second. Emily Mathyer walked, and after working the pitcher to double digit pitches, Caitlin Boer singled to left to bring in two runs and give the Kits a lead.
The next two batters made outs, and with two outs the Wildkits had runners at second and third. Junior captain Maddie Reiches came through with a clutch two-run hit to left center and the Kits ended the inning with a 4-1 lead.
This was all they would need, as they held the Eagles for the remainder of the game.
In the top of the second inning, Allie Managlia struck out the first batter, then after a hit, Maddie Reiches made an excellent play on the line to take away a hit and Managlia struck out the the next batter for three outs.
The Kits did not score in the second, but Izzy Bergman continued her day by singling and stealing second base.
In the top of the third, Bergman made a nice play at second, then the second hitter in the lineup singled. Taft’s third hitter then hit a line drive up the middle, which Managlia caught, and doubled the runner off of first.
The bottom of the third brought no runs, and the top of the fourth went quickly with two strikeouts for Managlia and another nice play by Maddie Reiches at third.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Kits pushed another run across as Jenna Ehrensaft singled and Freshman Izzy Bergman doubled to the wall to score her.
In the top of the fifth, Caroline Duke fielded a ground ball and threw the runner out at first, then dove to rob their batter of a hit.
The Kits broke it open in the fifth inning. Caitlin Boer started the rally with a hard single to left field. Allie Nortz walked and Caroline Duke lined out hard to third base.
Maddie Reiches worked a walk and Allie Managlia helped herself by driving in another run with a hit up the middle.
Freshman Emma Maxwell then drove in another rwan as she hit the ball to the left side and the Kits had a 7-1 lead.
Jenna Ehrensaft singled to load the bases. Izzy Bergman en completed her perfect day by singling to left field and driving in our 8th run. Emily Mathyer, Caitlin Boer, and Allie Nortz then brought in the last three runs, which gave the Kits an 11-1 lead and ended the game on the ten run rule.