This was more like it.
Senior shortstop Addison Wolf had a reason to howl Monday morning for St. Charles East, right after breathing a sigh of relief at the Go Pro Sports Dome in Shorewood.
“I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things,” Wolf said after the rare early weekday game. “My swing hasn’t really felt right, but this game will definitely help me get my confidence back.”
It certainly should.
Wolf went 3-for-4 with a single, a two-run triple and a solo home run at the indoor facility, sparking the Saints’ 13-hit attack for a 12-0 nonconference win over Neuqua Valley.
Junior right fielder Lexi Majkszak added a pair of triples and three RBIs for St. Charles East (5-3). Senior second baseman Alyse Price and junior catcher Hayden Sujack had two hits apiece.
Junior starter Makayla Van Dinther worked three innings for the pitching win and teamed with senior Kyli Dunn on a five-inning one-hitter for the Saints, who produced eight extra-base hits.
For Wolf, however, it was a big boost, even if she finished a double shy of the cycle.
“She showed she could hit for power,” St. Charles East coach Jared Gutesha said. “She got around to third on the triple and I’m thinking, ‘What’s she missing?’ I couldn’t figure it out at first.”
It helped Wolf break out of a 1-for-11 tailspin from four games last week against traditional powerhouse programs as Gutesha has again loaded his strong nonconference schedule.
The big day lifted Wolf’s batting average from .273 to .346 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.
“We had a grinder of a schedule,” she said. “I think it’s all about playing together. We might have lost a few, but we all stayed together as a team and we came to play (Monday).”
The Saints saw some strong pitching over four straight days last week, losing 7-1 Wednesday to Lockport on a one-hitter and 12-0 on a no-hitter in five innings Thursday to Lincoln-Way East.
St. Charles East topped Downers Grove North 2-1 Friday on just one hit — an RBI bunt single by Wolf that beat Florida Atlantic recruit Ashlynn Durkin, who struck out 13 batters.
Despite nine walks, Marist prevailed 12-3 Saturday over Saints, who could not capitalize.
“We saw some very good pitchers last week and everybody had the opportunity to face great competition, whether it’s our hitters or our pitchers,” Gutesha said. “Everybody got in there.
“We were giving them a little bit of everything, giving them a look at other kids, just figuring out who’s the best when we play the best.”
It’s the second year for Go Pro Sports Dome, which has a temporary plastic outfield fence for softball. It’s the ...
