For the most part, Andrea Wabol is a typical 15-year-old freshman.
Her favorite pop music artist is Brittney Spears, and her favorite pig-out food is Edy’s chocolate ice cream. She spends her free time shooting hoops in the driveway, watching television and instant-messaging buddies on the Internet.
But Friday, Wabol became the first Lockport freshman pitcher since Shannon Lindgren in 1996 to throw a no-hitter in leading the No. 7 Porters to a 2-0 victory over SICA West rival Stagg in Lockport.
“It was awesome, and my defense did a really good job behind me,” said Wabol, who induced the Chargers into 17 groundball outs. “In the last inning I knew I had a no-hitter going. I just wanted to finish strong.
“At tryouts I was hoping to make the sophomore team. It’s a great opportunity for me to pitch on the varsity as a freshman. And it’s been easy to fit in because all the players have totally accepted me.”
Twice No. 8 Stagg (14-4, 3-2) came close to spoiling the no-hitter. With one out in the sixth inning, leadoff batter Sarah Neil hit a chopper that Wabol snared in the tip of her glove. Nora Schober followed with a hard line drive that center-fielder Kelly Drozd caught, on the run, backhanded. She was unaware of the no-hitter.
“It’s better if I don’t know stuff like that,” Drozd said. “It would have just made me real nervous.”
Lockport (15-5, 3-3) scored two runs in the fifth with two outs, beginning with Denise Van Vossen’s single that drove in Margaret Gonsoulin, who had doubled. Drozd followed with a deep fly that was misplayed by left-fielder Amy Hyerczyk, scoring Gonsoulin.
Wabol’s most effective pitch was a curve that broke a foot away from right-handed batters. She learned the breaking ball from pitching instructor Bill Patara.
“I’ve sort of been having trouble with the curve this spring,” said Wabol, who improved her record to 8-1. “It works a lot better in the summer.”
