The Evanston Township High School Wildkits knew they had their work cut out for them Saturday facing a very strong Schaumburg team, and they turned in a solid performance, though they lost both games.
Jenna Ehrensaft pitched the complete first game, keeping the Saxons off balance all game. The game was scoreless into the fourth inning, and 1-0 into the 6th inning, though when the game ended the Wildkits had lost 3-0.
The second game was a back and forth battle the whole way.
In the top of the first, the Saxons scored three runs off of starting pitcher Allie Managlia. The Kits responded with one run when, with two outs, sophomore Emily Mathyer tripled off the top of the fence, freshman Izzy Bergman reached base, and Caitlin Boer ripped a shot to left field to score Mathyer.
Both teams were scoreless in the second as Maddie Reiches made a diving play at third base to keep the Saxons off the bases.
The third inning saw the Saxons scoring one run on three hits as shortstop Izzy Bergman threw a runner out from left field to third baseman Maddie Reiches to cut the Saxons down before they could score any more.
The Kits then evened the score in dramatic fashion. Jenna Ehrensaft started the inning with a line drive single to right field. Emily Mathyer then singled up the middle to put two runners on for Caitlin Boer.
With two strikes, Boer hit a homerun that was gone the second it left her bat. As it crossed the left field fence it was about thirty feet above the homerun fence and the Kits were tied 4-4 with the Saxons.
In the fourth, neither team scored – Allie Managlia struck out two Saxons.
The fifth inning saw the Saxons scoring three runs on five hits. Alyssa Lancaster hit an absolute smash which hit pitcher Allie Managlia in her pitching hand. Everyone thought Managlia was going to be done for the season, but instead it was determined that she had gotten her hand open and would just have a bruise. Not only was Managlia physically okay, but she wanted to continue to pitch the game.
The Kits came back to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth and give Managlia a lead to work with.
Jenna Ehrensaft once again started the inning with a single. Allie Nortz followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Emily Mather then singled to score Ehrensaft. Freshman Izzy Bergman, playing like a veteran, stepped in and ripped a shot to right center to score Nortz and Mathyer.
After a Boer groundout, junior captain Maddie Reiches hit a line drive to right field to score Bergman and give the Kits the lead.
The top of the Saxons order went down 1-2-3 in the 6th inning on a strikeout and a ground ball and pop up to shortstop Bergman. The Kits started a two out rally in the bottom of the sixth with hits from Nortz and Mathyer but did not score.
In the top of the seventh, the Saxons scored two runs on a well hit double. In the bottom of the seventh, the Saxons brought their ace, Lancaster back into the game. The Kits reached first and second but did not score.