Softball: Brooke Hofer, Andrew shut out Lincoln-Way West

Updated: May 3, 2012 6:48PM

For Andrew pitcher Brooke Hofer, the American flag blowing straight out in center field before Thursday’s SouthWest Suburban Red first-place showdown against Lincoln-Way North also served as a caution flag.

“I thought, ‘Gotta keep it low,’ ’’ Hofer said. “I was a little bit nervous, but I knew if I kept the ball low and made them put the ball on the ground, the defense would be able to pick it up and get them out at first.”

She did, and they did. Lincoln-Way West didn’t score.

Andrew’s hitters? They were singing. Their bats? They were stinging, in a 13-0 five-inning whitewash that further solidified the T-Bolts at the top of the division.

Hofer allowed just one hit, while striking out five in improving her record to 15-4. Kelly Christopher (two RBI) and Caitlyn Migawa (2-for-3, three RBI) each slugged home runs, while Jenna Lenza (five RBI), Dani Bestwina (two RBI) and Shannon Rust had two hits each.

Sam Magruder and Meg Fahrforth (double) each had one hit for Lincoln-Way West (16-8, 7-2).

In their last meeting, on April 13, Andrew prevailed 8-1. That was barnburner compared to Thursday.

Rust started a 12-hit parade for the T-Bolts with a leadoff double. One batter later Christopher crushed a two-run home run, her fifth of the season, over the fence in center field.

Lenza’s two-run double highlighted a four-run second inning, before a leadoff blast over the fence in left-center by Migawa (her third) set in motion a seven-run flood that also included two-run singles by Lenza and Migawa.

“I was actually expecting a really good game from (West),” Lenza said. “I know that they beat (Lincoln-Way) North and they’re one of the toughest teams in the conference. I didn’t expect this.”

Their opponents of late are probably looking for the truck that hit them.

Over its last six games, Andrew has outscored the opposition 78-2.

“We’ve scored so many runs the past few games,” Hofer said. “It’s just awesome knowing that your team is going to go up to bat and score as many runs as possible. There isn’t as much pressure on the defense and pitching when your hitters are hitting like that.”

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