Marist junior Isabel Cunnea has had a tough time with her bats this season.
The power-hitting outfielder has already cracked two of them.
She brought home another new one Sunday and immediately went to the batting cage.
“I wasn’t really happy with it at first,” Cunnea said. “It kind of like felt dead.”
The Northwestern recruit felt different Monday after smashing a line-drive single and launching a long home run in a 5-0 nonconference victory over Mother McAuley.
“I like it,” Cunnea said, laughing. “I guess I just needed to break it in a little bit.”
Senior right-hander Brooke McNichols fired a 10-strikeout no-hitter for the RedHawks (6-1-1). Eileen Donahue and Emily Bojan each had two hits.
Junior pitcher Mary Charniak struck out four in five innings for McAuley (1-3).
Cunnea made her first contribution in the top of the fourth, producing the second of three consecutive singles along with Emily Bojan and Donahue.
Then, Cunnea’s fourth home run of the season came in the sixth against Mighty Macs reliever Taylor Curran.
Circling the bases, Cunnea couldn’t help but smile extra wide.
“Taylor is my best friend,” Cunnea said. “I’ve known her since I was 4 growing up. It was kind of cool to face her.
“We gave each other a look as I was going up to bat. I just kind of elevated it and it kept going.”
Last season, Cunnea was an all-area contributor for the RedHawks in their run to the Class 4A state title. She batted .455 with 29 runs, 12 homers and 61 RBIs.
In the championship game against Lincoln-Way Central, she made a running catch down the left field line for the final out in Marist’s 3-1 victory.
“I remember us having a timeout in a huddle before that play,” Cunnea said. “It was when Abby Dunning was having (cramps and dehydration) on the mound.
“We were standing in center field with Sierra Sass and Kali Case. I was saying, ‘No matter what, this ball is not dropping.’ That’s my mentality on every ball that’s hit to me — not to let it drop, no matter what.”
This season, Cunnea is hitting .440 with 10 runs, four homers and 12 RBIs. Marist coach Colleen Phelan keeps her entrenched in the power sector of the batting order.
“Izzy is kind of like the spark plug to this team,” Phelan said. “There isn’t a girl on this team or the entire school who doesn’t love her. She brings her dance moves and her fun energy. She doesn’t let a bad at-bat bother her.
“She’s also super smart too, with honors classes and getting straight A’s. She’s just a special, special kid.”
The no-hitter by McNichols was her second of the season. She allowed just two balls to be hit out of the infield.
The 10 strikeouts upped her season total to 72 in 47 innings. Her season high was 19 in a 5-5 tie with Lincoln-Way Central.
“I love it,” McNichols said. “Those numbers show me how I did. I don’t really keep track during games, so seeing it afterward I’m like, ‘Wow, I had that many strikeouts?’
“It gives me gratification and I’m proud of myself. But I also know that I have my teammates out there backing me up.”
The right-handed Charniak was stellar for McAuley in four of the five innings. She faced the minimum nine batters through the third and retired the side in order in the fifth.
Charniak caught one line drive to start the fourth. On Donahue’s lined RBI single, she got the tip of her glove on the ball.
So close — to her head.
“Oh my gosh, that was so scary,” Charniak said, smiling. “They’re a really good-hitting team, so I felt pretty accomplished.
“It was only my second game pitching this season, so it feels good to be back in the groove.”
