Despite missing several players who attended prom on Saturday night, a resourceful Riverside-Brookfield softball squad performed well at the Niles West Tournament.
The Bulldogs (23-5, 9-0 Metro Suburban Conference) opened the eight-team, single-day tourney in impressive fashion with an 8-1 victory over Evanston. Freshman Kiley O’Connell threw a complete game one-hitter, while Fallon Ryan triggered the offense with two hits and an RBI. Riverside-Brookfield also scored four runs, capitalizing on multiple errors from the Wildkits.
“I was happy that we were able to win two out of three games [at Niles West] especially playing some of our younger players,” RB coach Dan Hull said. “We have won this tournament [before] and it’s a good challenge for us.”
Tournament champion Hinsdale South defeated RB 4-2 in the Bulldogs’ second game. Lindsay Hayes singled to drive in a run in the first inning for RB and Kiley Rusen provided the other RBI in the fourth.
Tied at 2-2, the Hornets scraped two runs in the fifth to earn the victory.
Riverside-Brookfield bounced back in its final game to edge Montini 4-2. O’Connell (5-0) earned the victory by pitching 6 1/3 innings before Hayes secured the last two outs in a relief role. Rusen provided the go-ahead run when she singled to score Michelle Demitro in the fifth.
“I feel our pitching is really doing well,” Hull said. “We have a nice mix of pitchers. And, we are playing solid defense.”
Hayes (8-2) and Morgan Vogel (9-3) are Hull’s top two pitchers, while varsity newcomer O’Connell has quickly established herself as another valuable member in the Bulldogs’ rotation.
Last week, the Bulldogs also clinched the Metro Suburban Conference title by taking three games from Fenton. Riverside-Brookfield dominated the Bison during the series, outscoring them 38-6 over 19 innings.
The Bulldogs completed their sweep against Fenton with a 14-2 win on Thursday (May 14). Rachel Buccieri and Hayes both went 3-for-5, while Michelle Demitro (2 earned runs, 3 hits allowed) registered her first win.
On Wednesday, May 13, RB cruised to a 12-2 decision over Fenton. Regan Riley, Jessie Hutchens and Ryan had three hits apiece. Collectively, the talented trio drove in eight runs to carry a balanced attack.
In the series opener (Tuesday, May 12), Ryan and Rusen chipped in two RBIs apiece, while starter Vogel and relievers O’Connell and Demitro collaborated for five innings of solid pitching to tame the Bison 12-2.
The Bulldogs also completed a sweep of Elmwood Park last week when RB knocked off the Tigers 4-1 in nine innings.
Riverside-Brookfield closes out the regular season this week with road games against Benet (Wednesday, May 20) and Reavis (Thursday). The Bulldogs will also compete in the Stone City Tournament on Saturday.