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Victory marks school record, advances team in playoffs
May 28, 2009
By ROB WOLLENZIEN For The Sun
Wednesday's Naperville North Regional semifinal belonged to Benet sophomore Mikayla Panko.
She finished the Redwings' 10-0 win over Hinsdale Central with six RBIs out of the No. 8 spot in the batting order. Panko also made a diving catch in the top of the fifth.
BENET 10, HINSDALE CENTRAL 0
HC 000 000 X -- 0 4 1
BA 000 235 X -- 10 12 0
HR: Benet -- Panko. 3B: Benet -- Panko. 2B: Hinsdale Central -- Amodeo; Benet -- Rohan, Makowski.
WP: Eastman (21-4); LP: Parks (2-3)
Strikeouts: Hinsdale Central -- Parks 2; Benet -- Eastman 4.
The center fielder had a definite inkling of her best moment.
"Probably the catch, because (coach Jerry Schilf) has been pushing me to do it all season," Panko said. "I finally put everything on the line and went all out for the ball."
Schilf was happy to acknowledge her defensive contribution. He went even further: "The point that changed the game was Mikayla's diving catch. The game was 2-0 at that point and that gave us a 1-2-3 inning. I was nervous up until we got a lead of seven runs."
Panko homered in the fifth to give the Redwings a 5-0 lead, then cleared the bases with a sixth-inning triple. The latter made it 9-0, and leadoff hitter Claire Geyer (three hits) plated the 10th and final run on a sacrifice fly to center.
Because of the 10-run mercy rule, Geyer's sac fly ended the game.
Benet got its school-record 30th win of the season (with five losses) and starter Meghan Eastman improve to 21-4.
Hinsdale Central finishes the year 10-21. Starting pitcher Jessie Parks (2-3) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings before Jordan Kulawiak entered in relief.
Eastman went the distance for Benet in a four-hit effort.
Allyson Staats (2-for-4) and Lindsey Rohan (2-for-2 with a walk) also had big days for the history-making Redwings.
Shellie Schaffer had two RBIs and a defensive gem at second base.
"Here's the thing: Both teams put a lot of pressure on each other," Red Devils coach Lee Maciejewski said. "We cracked first."
Panko's home run was her third of the season.
The Redwings play the winner of Thursday's Naperville North-Neuqua Valley game in the regional final Saturday morning.
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