Softball: Mundelein slugs its way past Stevenson, now 23-0

In Heather Ryan's return to manning the Mundelein softball program this spring after spending the last four springs working with the Mustangs' lower levels, they've displayed every facet of the game from solid pitching and defense to sound hitting.

But in Wednesday's 10-3 home win over Stevenson that kept them unbeaten at 23-0 overall and on top of the North Suburban Conference at 10-0, their hitting featured power as well.

As in hitting the softball over the fence that the Mustangs did four times en route to victory.

In addition the home team received another solid outing from sophomore ace Shae Johnson as she hurled a complete-game surrendering only five hits while fanning 12.

"This group is one of the most hard-working that I've ever coached," Ryan said. "They really do a lot to get themselves ready for a game to put themselves into a position where they can make those plays offensively and defensively. All the credit to them."

The Mustangs put themselves in that position thanks to an RBI double from Casey Vyverman. That hit set up designated hitter Lillian Scardicchio to take an Ana Potemba pitch over the fence for a two-run homer that gave the hosts a 3-0 lead after 2.

Two innings later, Mundelein exploded for a five-run fourth beginning with a Sophia Zepeda round-tripper followed by a two-run shot by catcher Katrina Benes that drove in Scardicchio.

After a Claire Connelly single, Johnson would aid her cause with a two-run homer over the fence in left-center that extended the lead to 8-1 at inning's end and knocking Potemba out.

Johnson's homer was a feat made more impressive by the fact that she didn't take batting practice prior to the contest

"I stayed loose in the box and I saw the pitch really well and I just visualized hitting it and going out in my head and it worked best," she said.

Stevenson (12-8, 6-4) got solo homers from designated hitter Aubrey Jepsen in the fourth inning and left fielder Sara Saiki in the fifth.

Stevenson coach Vera Pflugradt wanted her team to watch and learn from the contest which was the second they have dropped this season to Mundelein.

"They're an undefeated team and they're doing really well and there's a reason for that. We did a lot of little things right and we're continuing to get better day in and day out."

Pflugradt also looks to keep her squad's spirits up as the regular season winds its way down.

"Use it (the loss) as fuel moving forward and that one day we're going to be like that," Pflugradt said.

Ryan continues to be impressed with her team's drive and motivation.

"A big strength of our team is our ability to keep our heads level whether we're losing or ahead in the game,“ she said. ”I feel like we always are very consistent emotionally and that's how we stay in games and that's a big reason for the way we perform the way that they do."