By Scott Taylor | @Taylor_Sports
Due to the weather, it has been an eventful start to the season for Maine South softball.
“We’ve been in the fieldhouse, we were in snow storms, we even practiced in the snow,” Maine South coach Emmy Pasier said. “This is what we have. We live in Chicago. What are we going to do?”
Despite that, the Hawks have battled hard in the early part of the season, even though they have played very few games.
“I have a fantastic group of kids,” Pasier said. “I have 14 kids who have not complained once about the cold, the conditioning or coming in at six in the morning for practice. They are a great group of girls. I don’t need to motivate them, they do a good job of that themselves.”
In the games they have played this year, Pasier is happy with the team’s performance.
“I’m really happy about the way they have played,” Pasier said. “I’m a hitter, I like hitting. The fact that this team likes to hit, it makes me happy. I said for us to be like the Cubs and every time they score, we score.”
As the season picks up steam, Pasier hopes they can continue to perform at a high level and maintain their hard work and perseverance.
“I want them to continue playing the way they have,” Pasier said. “Whether they are up or down, they don’t give up, they work hard and they get the out in front of them and don’t give up the extra base. Hits are going to happen, scores are going to happen and wins/losses are going to happen. You have to keep your head on straight. That is what I am looking forward to. It is going to be a fun season with these girls.”
Britney Richardson had a home run in Maine South’s win over Niles West.
By the end of the season, the Hawks are hoping to clear a couple of hurdles and turn second place finishes into firsts.
“We have been in second place in our conference a couple times now,” Pasier said. “We’d love to be out on top. The Central Suburban League South is an incredible conference. We’ve had some really stiff competition and we’d like to be on top of that. We have been to the regional championship game the past three years and we would like to get over that hurdle. Every game I want to play how we can and come out on top.”
The biggest thing they need to work on to get to that point is their fielding, which is the case for every team early in the season and with the weather. As the season progresses, that is expected to improve.
“Right now we just need to practice on the field,” Pasier said. “When you can’t practice your double plays or simple fielding things, fielding is always going to be behind hitting. So that is something we are going to have to work on.”
Maine South scored seven runs in the first two innings to top Niles West 8-4. Britney Richardson and Maddie Rog (2 hits, 3 RBI) each hit homers. Sarah Hoffman went 3-for-3, while Elizabeth Porterfield had two hits with a double. Rog went the distance on the mound, allowing five hits and one earned run, striking out six. Shannon McHugh had a double and two RBI for Niles West.
The Hawks fell to New Trier 6-4 in eight innings. Rob struck out seven on the mound.
•Niles West fell to Glenbrook South 6-5 in eight innings as Monica Gutierrez (2 RBI, double) and Kayleigh Plach each had two hits. Gianna Mahoney and McHugh (double, 2 RBI) each had two hits in a 14-4 loss to Leyden.