MCHENRY – McHenry and Crystal Lake Central stepped out of conference play and both teams decided to give their normal starting pitchers a breather on Tuesday. The way the first few innings went, it sure looked like both teams aces were on the mound.

McHenry had one big inning and that proved to be all it would need as the Warriors defeated Central 5-2 at McHenry West High School.

Amy Walsh was the Tigers' (10-6) starting pitcher, and what better way to help yourself than starting the game with a leadoff triple. Walsh scored the first run one batter later on a sacrifice fly from Kelly Iwamoto.

That would be Central's last run until the sixth inning. McHenry’s Sophie Migacz settled in and only gave up four more hits, all singles, in her six innings of work. As impressive as Migacz was on the mound, it was the Warriors' defense that brought a smile to the face of coach John DiFrancesca.

“This game was almost identical to our game against South yesterday,” DiFrancesca said. “Both teams are really tough teams to get out and are tough teams to play against. Defensively, we have really solidified things lately and, if we can continue to play solid defense, we will be in good shape.”

McHenry (14-4) got the bats going in the fourth inning. Kristin Koepke started the inning with a single and scored on a two-run home run by Alex Martens. With two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning, junior Erika Breidenbach came through with a clutch single to drive in two runs and increase the lead to 4-1.

“I haven’t really been up to bat much lately so I was happy to come up with some hits today and help my team out,” Breidenbach said.

Breidenbach finished the game with two hits and a walk in her three plate appearances.  Martens added a double to go along with her homerun. Migacz earned the victory for the Warriors and sophomore Taylor Langguth pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.

Walsh led Central with two hits and pitched six solid innings in defeat.

“We really wanted to bounce back after a tough game yesterday,” Tigers coach Brian Strombom said. “We had a few chances early but needed more. Amy Walsh did a great job on the mound and really set  the tone offensively.”

The Game Ball

Erika Breidenbach

McHenry junior second basemen

The junior had two hits including a key two-run single with two outs in the fourth inning to help McHenry earn the nonconference victory.

The Number - 5

Number of hits allowed by McHenry’s Sophie Migacz in six innings of work.

The Big Play

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, McHenry’s Alex Martens hit a 2-run homerun to give the Warriors the lead.

McHenry 5, Crystal Lake Central 2

Crystal Lake Central                                      1 0 0 0 0 1 0   – 2 5 1

McHenry                                                         0 0 0 4 0 1 x -   5  9  0

WP- Migacz (6IP,5H,2R,2ER, 0BB,4K) LP- Walsh (6IP,9H,5R,5ER, 3BB,6K)

Top Hitters: Crystal Lake Central- Walsh 2-3 (3B,2R), Iwamoto 1-2 (RBI), Frank 1-3 (RBI). McHenry-Martens 2-3 (HR,2B,2RBI), Breidenbach 2-2 (2RBI,R,BB), Migacz 2-2 (R,SB,BB).