Softball: Lockport holds off Downers South

Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec won’t complain if the questions about one of her players involves whether she’s better offensively or defensively.

Asked about catcher Bri Carney, Chovanec didn’t hesitate to answer after her team’s 7-5 win over Downers Grove South.

“Both,” grinned Chovanec, whose team almost blew a 6-0 lead. “I will take both at this point.”

Carney belted a two-run home run in the top of the first against a fierce wind that didn’t look like it was going to surrender a long ball. That gave the Porters (1-1) a 2-0 lead through the first three innings.

The Mustangs (1-2), down 7-1, rallied back in the sixth scoring three runs to pull within 7-4, and added another in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. That is when Carney pulled out the defensive gem of the day, making a diving catch of a foul ball down the third-base line for the second out.

Lefty reliever Taylor Weissenhofer got the next hitter, Jessica Andree, to ground to second to end the game.

“We made it a little too close,” Carney said. “I am glad Taylor pulled it together and came through. We got off to a rocky start, we lost one and we don’t want to lose again.”

Pitcher Carly Dundee was 3-for-4 for the Porters, including a double. She recorded the win, going 4 1/3, striking one, walking two and allowing six hits. Carney and Melissa Stoch (RBI) each added a pair of hits, while Alyssa Visvardis stroked a double.

Crytal Loehman was 3-for4 while Katy La Cavita went 2-for-4 for the Mustangs. Reliever Kelly Schmitt added an RBI double, and starting pitcher Aleisha Bozer also added a double before she was lifted in the fifth. She gave up three earned runs, five hits, walked two, and struck out one.

“We had our chances,” Downers South coach Ron Havelka said. “We came out flat, and you can’t spot Lockport a 6-0 lead. To our credit we came back.”

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.