Marengo tourney offers stiff tests for HHS

HUNTLEY – The Huntley softball team stood at a 12-5 record following a split of two games at the Marengo Tournament April 23. The Red Raiders battled in two intense games, both decided by 1-0 scores in the seventh inning, a loss to St. Charles East followed by a win over Lincoln Way East.

“We always come here for the caliber of the competition,” HHS coach Mark Petryniec said. “[Against St. Charles East] it came down to who executed the small ball better.”

The Red Raiders concluded the day on a bright note with the win over the Griffins. Meghan Ryan’s seventh inning hit brought home Zoe Doherty for the winning run. Doherty was 2 for 3 with one double and a stolen base. Winning pitcher Heard struck out 10 batters.

Heard had fanned 16 St. Charles East hitters in the morning game.

Huntley and St. Charles East standout softball players gathered for a group photo following a Marengo Tournament game.

Why not, after all the seniors were rookies when the Red Raiders outlasted the Saints 1-0 for the 2019 state championship.

“We play in about six or seven tournaments each summer,” Heard said.

The Red Raiders had no trouble in recent Fox Valley Conference games. They beat Crystal Lake South 22-1 April 21 for their most runs of the season, on 14 hits, for their 10th straight victory and a 7-0 league record. This followed a 21-0 victory over Jacobs 21-1 the day before.

“As a collective group, we have been hitting the ball better and as the season goes on we hope our adjustments continue,” Petryniec said.

In recent state rankings by MaxPreps, the Huntley squad was 20th in Illinois, 13th in Chicago and 10th in Class 4A.

Statistics leaders, pre-Marengo tournament, were Heard with a 0.455 batting average; 0.526 on-base percentage and two home runs. She had a 0.83 Earned Run Average.