Poor weather doesn’t stop Lockport
Updated: May 4, 2011 5:13PM
Wrapped in blankets in the bleachers and along the left-field fence, Lockport fans looked like they were ready for a Bears game Tuesday instead of softball.
“This is football weather,’’ an umpire remarked as he hurried off the field after the game.
It was football weather with a football score as Lockport rolled to a 14-0 Southwest Suburban Blue victory over host Joliet West. Amanda Oberc pitched a complete game for Lockport (14-7-1, 3-3) with seven strikeouts.
“It was a very on day for me today,’’ Oberc said. “I was really working the inside corners, jamming them, throwing them off balance with my changeups.’’
Oberc faced only three batters in six of her seven innings and issued no walks.
“She had command of her pitches, she was getting ahead,’’ Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec said. “That’s one thing we had been talking to them about--putting runners on base without them earning it. No walks. She did a good job of that.’’
“That’s a really key component,’’ Oberc said. “You have to have control. And your defense has to back you up. They did a great job.’’
The offense wasn’t bad either. Designated hitter Brianna Carney led the 16-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs, three RBIs and a solo homer for a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
“I was going up there with a clear mind, just finding my pitch,’’ Carney said. “We got some runs and it was contagious.’’
Lia Romeo was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs, Britni Vrba had three hits, Ashley London two doubles and Tierney Bottino two singles and two runs scored.
Kayla Sorensen pitched the first four innings for Joliet West (9-12, 2-4) and left with only a 3-0 deficit.
‘’We have a younger pitching staff, we have a younger defense,’’ Joliet West coach Heather Suca said. “They really started getting hits off Katie McKay. We really don’t have another pitcher to put in after that.’’
Lockport put the game out of reach with a seven-run seventh inning.
“It was a good learning experience for her,’’ Suca said of McKay. “Hopefully next time that happens she can work through it a little bit better.’’
Suca said her team was hitting in the previous five games, but Oberc limited West to two hits, including a double off the centerfield fence by Julia Liceaga.
“Her curveball and her changeup definitely kept us off balance,’’ Suca said. “Hopefully the next time we see a pitcher of that caliber we’ll be better.’’
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