With the state playoffs on the horizon, the Riverside Brookfield softball team would love to piece together a winning streak and further develop team chemistry and consistency. Now, if the Bulldogs (13-6, 3-1 Metro Suburban) can just manage to play games on a continuous basis, these aspirations actually can have a chance of being met.
Reflective of a sporadic season that has seen many games postponed or cancelled, the Bulldogs played just a pair of games last week.
RB lost a 1-0 decision to Evergreen Park on April 23, before bouncing back the next day with a 5-4 victory against Willowbrook. Granted, all softball teams are dealing with the same scheduling difficulties as the Bulldogs, but it’s still no less frustrating for RB coach Dan Hull and his precocious squad.
“Because of the inclement weather causing us to miss a lot of games, I’m still struggling to find out where we are as a team,” Hull said. “It’s hard to get any consistency going with a lack of games. At times, even getting in practice has been difficult. We’re usually an improved softball team by this point of the season, but I’m still seeing what we have.”
Offensively, the Bulldogs will continue to rely upon a “hitting by committee” approach that includes productive sluggers like Lindsey Hayes, April Hutchens, Jessie Hutchens, Jaimie Duffek, Rachel Buccieri and Maas.
During their 1-0 loss at Evergreen Park, RB starter Samantha Maas yielded only one run by allowing a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. The savvy senior threw four solid innings and Emma Forsberg added three innings of scoreless relief.
The next day, Maas (4-4) tossed a gem, going six innings with 11 strikeouts and one walk to spark the Bulldogs to a 5-4 win over Willowbrook . All four runs for Willowbrook were unearned. RB, which snapped a mini two-game losing skid, had five hits and scored three runs in the fifth en route to the nonconference win.
“I was able to play everybody in the [Willowbrook] game,” Hull said. “We were in command for most of the game. Sam (Maas) and Forsberg pitched well for us.”
RB will take on a full slate of conference games this week, including three games against Fenton.
“We’re still experimenting with Sam trying to get her ready for these upcoming conference games and the playoffs,” Hull said. “She’ll see plenty of work this week.”
Hull will also attend a sectional seeding meeting this week. Last season, the Bulldogs went 23-14 en route to a regional title with a win over Morton before losing 4-1 to Oak Park in the sectional.