THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Another Fab Frosh For Warriors
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Sports
Back in late winter in March, things looked bleak for the Maine West softball team.
Coach Mike Murin's squad lost its first two games in the Barrington tournament, to Lake Zurich and Glenbrook North. A freshman he was counting on to make major contributions was getting off to a slow start. The cold weather was not helping the team get "warmed up.'
Then, one of the biggest turnarounds in any sport in recent history began. The Warriors, defending Central Suburban-North conference champions, defeated a formidable Elk Grove team and took off like a reporter chasing a rumor in a Presidential campaign.
Since those two early defeats more than six weeks ago, the Warriors have not lost. They have fashioned a school-record 16-game winning streak, won seven in a row in the Central Suburban-North (including a payback win over GBN), and the freshman is making huge contributions.
This freshman is Amanda Wessell, the latest in a series of outstanding first-year players who have broken into high school varsity softball in dramatic fashion. Wessell not only has won five games as a pitcher, she is hitting robustly, driving in runs, and hitting the long ball. She hit her second homerun of the spring this week in an 11-1 Warrior win over Niles North. She has joined senior Emily Ott to form one of the most formidable pitching duos in the suburban area, and West is riding high to a state ranking.
"We knew Amanda had the skills necessary to succeed in high school softball when we watched her in tryouts and pre-season practice,' said Murin. "But she started slowly at the plate, while she pitched well from the start. Now, however, she is feeling more comfortable with the bat and is producing.'
Wessell is not unique as a freshman sensation, Murin said, she's typical. "We've had a number of freshmen who have played well, including Robin and Ellie Petersen a few years ago, and Jenna Depa, who is now a junior and excelled as a freshman.'
Against Niles North, Ott pitched a 1-hitter (another typical performance) with 10 strikeouts and no walks as West maintained at least a one-game lead in the conference over Deerfield.
Depa had 2 hits, Ott tripled, and Jackie Janecek doubled to go with Wessell's homer.
West also is getting strong pitching from Caryn McGinley, and Depa is an outstanding defensive player who is anchoring a solid Warrior infield.
Elsewhere in the area this week, St. Viator won its second game against 9 defeats with a 5-4 win over Fenwick. Emily Catenese struck out 4 and Julie Sweeney earned the save. Tayler Lenart hit a 2-run single for the Lions in the first inning. Jessica Etchingham, Lauren Banaszak, and Niki Dumele each drove in a run for the Lions in the sixth inning.
This weekend's highlight contests include Maine West at the Rolling Meadows tournament, where Glenbrook South of the CSL-South, and formidable Fremd of the Mid Suburban-West, are among the opponents. Glenbrook South is at Maine South next Monday, in another game between two of the CSL's best.
In a big matchup in the Mid Suburban-East, Prospect is at leader Elk Grove at 4:30 p.m. next Monday. Leyden absorbed a 13-0 loss st the hands of Hinsdale South as the Eagles got only 2 hits.
Highland Park defeated Maine East, 6-3.