Sports

Sandburg Not About to Take a Pass on Opportunity

Eagles combine clutch hitting with powerful pitching to extend lead over Lincoln-Way East in conference softball race.

When the leadoff hitter gets a free pass, every baseball and softball coach knows that it is a huge stroke of luck, and the rest of the order needs to do what it can to push that run across the plate.

That's exactly what coach Jim Fabianski and the Eagles did in the first inning of a 5-0 victory over Lincoln-Way East on Monday.

Candace Koch led off the home half of the first, and a heads-up baserunning move enabled her to reach third on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on an RBI double from Lexi Bryant, and Sandburg was off and running in the Southwest Suburban Blue showdown.

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The Griffins lacked offensive pop, leaving all three of their baserunners on, including two in scoring position, in what was then a 2-0 game. But if it seemed like the margin was 200-0, it was because of the clutch work by Sandburg's Lora Olson. At one point, she struck out a Griffin pinch-hitter on three straight pitches.

She finished with a three-hitter and 12 strikeouts. Last week, the Eagles played just three innings. Their pent up energy came out Monday in the bats.

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"We were anxious to play," Fabianski said. "(Olson) showed how good she really is. When she hits the corners, and when she is on, you have to bring your 'A' game."


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