Softball: Lakes regains top form against Carmel
Updated: April 13, 2012 7:39PM
The roller-coaster ride that is Lakes softball continued on Friday, this time with a superior effort and a 7-3 non-conference victory over a quality Carmel squad.
The unpredictable Eagles (9-4) snapped a two-game skid as they scored all their runs with two outs, got yeoman work from emergency pitcher Paige Olker, and played errorless ball.
“We did our job today,” Lakes coach Bill Hamill said. “We had solid defense, which was the difference in the game.”
Making clutch defensive plays were shortstop Jamie Dykstra and third baseman Cassidy Schaar.
Schaar started a double play in the sixth with two on and no out to snuff Carmel’s final rally.
In the circle, Olker was pressed into action when ace Taylor Dishinger couldn’t go due to illness. She worked seven innings, giving up five hits. She didn’t fan a batter, but the defense made all the plays.
“Paige did a great job for us,” Hamill said. “She keeps her ball low and can hit her spots. It’s a great thing to have her and ‘Dish’ ready to go.”
Leading Lakes offensively were Meghan Milewski (3-for-3, two runs) and Dykstra (2-for-4, three RBI, double, run scored).
Lakes scored two in the first and five in third off loser Nicole Bitter.
Carmel coach Jason Raymond was disappointed with the team’s showing.
“We are a flat team right now,” he said. “We don’t have the emotion we need. We’re trying to find ourselves.”
Carmel (6-6) got all its runs in the fourth, and would have had more if not for a nice play by Dykstra at short.
Lakes had lost its last two games, bowing to Grayslake North 10-9 and getting slaughter-ruled by Warren. Before that was a quality win over rival Antioch.
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