Softball: Willowbrook scores 10 in third, blasts past Addison Trail

VILLA PARK – Two quality softball teams met Wednesday in Villa Park, with one team increasing the horsepower on its offense.

Host Willowbrook scored 10 runs on nine hits in the third inning to beat Addison Trail 10-1 and tie the Blazers for second place in the West Suburban Gold. Each team stands at 6-3.

First-place Downers Grove South was 7-1 going into Wednesday’s game against Leyden. Addison Trail travels to Downers South on May 19.

Willowbrook (12-7) finished with 14 hits on the afternoon.

“We were not hitting well (going into the game). We were doing enough to win,” Willowbrook assistant coach Jim White said. “We changed our strategy and be a little more patient and it worked today.”

The Blazers (16-5) took the lead right at the start as leadoff hitter Gia Napoli put down a well-placed bunt in the first and beat the throw. She stole second and third and with one out, Taylor Gloms scored her on a single to right.

Willowbrook’s big third started when winning pitcher Caitlyn Kulczyski walked and Kayleigh Dennison was hit by a pitch.

That set the table for Grace Hayes who doubled to right, scoring them both. Hayes would single in two runs later in the inning.

Catcher Isabella Dugo singled to left and that brought Hannah Kenny to the plate. She sailed an 0-1 pitch over the right-field fence for three more runs that put the Warriors in the driver’s seat.

“I try to focus on the ball all the way. I took the first pitch and the second one I connected on,” Kenny said.

The Warriors were far from done.

Zaida Serrano singled to center with one out and that scored Lindsey Rugg, who had walked. Next came leadoff hitter Sonia Ruchala whose homer to left brought home Serrano.

Kulczyski earned a complete-game win, allowing just four hits and striking out 10.

“My change-up and curveball were working. This was a good team effort,” she said.

The Blazers had beaten the Warriors 11-9 on April 25 in the first of the two conference encounters.

“It feels real good coming back stronger and better than the first time,” Kenny said.

Gloms singled again in the sixth for Addison Trail and Erin Parker had an infield hit in the second.

“This is a young crew. We start six freshmen. but we have good senior leadership,” Addison Trail coach Mark Olson said. “Our future is bright, but there are growing pains to go along with it.”