Successful athletes on a hot streak often talk about “being in the zone.”
Those are times to be savored.
Junior shortstop Delaney Nolan had just such a run for St. Edward — and then some — in a recent 10-day span.
“I just went up there trying to make contact with the ball,” Nolan said. “Just trying to put it out in the outfield and make something happen for my team.”
In five games, Nolan had 15 hits in 15 at-bats.
“It didn’t hit me until our last game that I hadn’t been out in a while,” Nolan said.
She started the streak May 4 against IC Catholic, going 3-for-3 with a double. She capped it May 13 against Timothy Christian, going 5-for-5 with a double.
“It’s the best hitting streak I have seen in over 29 years of coaching softball,” St. Edward coach Jerry Kublank said.
Kublank, who has coached a number of high school sports at various levels in a 51-year career that included 30 years at Palatine, came out of retirement to assist with the Green Wave last spring, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic hit. He has been in charge this season.
Nolan’s streak ended with a strikeout on a change-up, the sixth pitch in her first at-bat last Saturday against Westmont.
“This year, I’m batting leadoff for the first time,” Nolan said. “I’ll watch the pitcher warming up, try to time her up and see what she throws.”
Delaney entered the week hitting .714 (20-for-28) with eight doubles, two triples and six RBIs. She also has eight stolen bases on eight attempts.
That’s not many at-bats, but it has been a struggle this season for the Green Wave (2-9) with every game shortened by the 10-run rule.
“We haven’t won a lot, but it’s just fun to go out there and play,” Nolan said.
Nolan, who has done travel ball for seven years, helped Kublank recruit players to fill out his roster.
“We do have a pretty good core,” Kublank said. “There’s potential here to build something.”
Welcome back: Hit with a 14-day layoff due to COVID-19 protocols just four games into its season, St. Charles North returned to action last Thursday at Wheaton North.
The North Stars dropped a 3-2 decision, despite a two-run homer from sophomore Megan Bauwens.
St. Charles North played four games in three days through the weekend, beating Lake Park 8-1 and splitting with Jacobs, losing 13-8 and winning 14-7 with home runs from Anastasia Pappas, Leigh Vande Hei and Ashlee Chantos.
“Sundays are the only days between the 13th and the end of the regular season on the 29th that aren’t game days,” North Stars coach Tom Poulin said. “Every day is game day. We don’t have any practices, but we’ll use the time before home games to get a little work done.”
Power surge: As the record would indicate, Waubonsie Valley (4-12) has been hot and cold at the plate this season.
The Warriors brought the heat with four home runs Thursday in a 9-3 win at Metea Valley.
“We’ve got the hitters to do it,” Waubonsie coach Val Wood said. “We just have to get all the pieces together. The first part of the season we averaged five to 11 runs, then hit a lull midway through conference play.”
Ellie Laub and Megan Kennedy had back-to-back solo homers against the Mustangs. Winning pitcher Hannah Laub had a two-run homer and Gia Cobert added a grand slam.
Noteworthy: Jacobs pitcher Abbey Nesnidal threw a no-hitter with two walks and 18 strikeouts Friday in an 8-0 win over Grant … Burlington Central pitcher Danielle Durckel had two wins, striking out 18 and allowing no earned runs in 12 innings … Newark pitcher Kaitlyn Schofield had two wins with 22 strikeouts. She helped her cause with seven hits, including two home runs and 12 RBIs.
