Softball: Freshman Erin Metz gives all she has, lifts Wheaton North to 10-inning thriller over St. Charles East

ST. CHARLES – Erin Metz battled apparent ankle discomfort in the pitching circle, but that wasn’t stopping her from giving her team all she had.

Metz, Wheaton North’s freshman pitcher, struck out eight and went the distance in a 10-inning game Wednesday. She also came through at the plate to help her cause, singling in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th to send the Falcons past St. Charles East 2-1 in the DuKane Conference race.

In doing so, Metz outdueled St. Charles East junior Izzy Howe, who was magnificent with a career-high 19 strikeouts in a complete game effort and was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run to boot.

“It’s incredible to see a freshman pitcher come out here with that composure,” Wheaton North coach Zach Peterselli said of Metz. “And just battle every single batter against such a great team.”

St. Charles East (23-6, 11-2) missed out on a chance to clinch the DuKane Conference title, but can do so with a victory over Batavia on Thursday. Wheaton North (19-6, 11-3) will need a Saints’ loss to take a share of the championship.

“Like she said, she had her teammates around her and she had faith that they were going to make the plays, which I think gave her the additional confidence that she needed just to go out there and play her game,” Peterselli said.

Howe led off the third inning with a solo home run to take the lead. Wheaton North’s Lauren Vaughn hit a solo shot in the fifth to tie it, her eighth of the season.

The Saints nearly re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after Chelsea Campagna reached on an error and Howe hit a single to put her in scoring position. Abby Arend singled to left field, but the relay in and throw from shortstop Ellie Hubbard cut Campagna down without a slide to preserve the tie.

The pitcher’s duel continued all the way through to the end with both teams squandering scoring chances.

In the 10th, Falcons freshman Monica Kading advanced to first safely on a dropped third strike after the ball bounced to the backstop. Kading advanced to second on a passed ball, which allowed Metz to slice an RBI single to take the 2-1 lead.

“Obviously, it’s stressful going into [the at bat]. No one is scoring. I just felt; I was just waiting for that pitch and hoping not to strikeout obviously,” Metz said. “Really, I didn’t really think of anything. It just kind of happened.”

Saints senior Elliott Sanders reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the 10th, but Metz came back to retire Kayla Richardson and Katie Arrambide on a ground out.

The Falcons concluded their regular season on a three-game win streak.

“For me, I can completely trust my teammates,” Metz said. “I know they can get down hard plays and simple plays. For a pitcher knowing that, it’s easier to work the zone and it’s easier to throw pitches that are more strikes than ones that are balls because you can trust your fielders.”

The Saints have lost two straight games, and have three more regular season contests left before what could shape up to be a deeper playoff run behind Arrambide and Howe.

“[Howe’s] been lights out and pitching well,” St. Charles East coach Jarod Gutesha said. “She’s been doing a great job for us. To see her do that, is [impressive]...she just goes ‘give me the ball, and I’m going to go at it.’ She’s competitive and she’s done a great job for us.”

“It’s one of those things where she knows what she has to do and she’s out there doing it – not letting the other team dictate what she’s supposed to be doing,” Gutesha continued.