Softball: Richmond-Burton’s bats stay hot in win over Crystal Lake Central

RICHMOND – Richmond-Burton senior third baseman Carys De Lucia missed the feeling of hitting a long home run.

But that’s certainly not all she missed.

“Everyone just missed playing and seeing each other. It was mentally hard for everyone,” De Lucia said of last spring’s lost season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It didn’t feel real to be playing again, to be honest. A lot of us have grown up and played together. We’re excited to be back together again.”

After scoring 15 runs in a season-opening win against Grayslake Central earlier in the week, the Rockets’ bats stayed hot Thursday. R-B collected 12 hits and used a nine-run fourth inning to defeat Crystal Lake Central, 14-2, in five innings in their nonconference game.

All nine batters in the Rockets’ lineup scored at least one run, and seven of nine recorded at least one hit.

De Lucia drilled her third home run in two games and finished a double away from the cycle, going 3 for 4 with a homer, triple, three RBIs and three runs scored, while senior second baseman Rachel Baker went 2 for 3 with three RBIs – including a bases-clearing double in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

Taylor Davison and Lyndsay Regnier each had a double and drove in one run for the Rockets, Mia Spohr tallied two hits and two runs, Norah Spittler (2 for 2) scored twice with one RBI, and Caroline Adams drove in one.

R-B coach Vicki Klopf was thrilled to be back on the third base line, even with a few hard foul balls hit her way.

“It’s just nice to be back on the field. As a coach, I can’t explain how excited I am,” Klopf said. “The girls are happy to be out here, and it just changes the whole dynamic of everything that’s going on right now. This is just fantastic. I think it’s a positive experience for their social and mental well-being, as well.”

R-B (2-0) won the Kishwaukee River Conference championship in 2019 and looked to be a strong contender last year before the season was canceled. The 2019 KRC Player of the Year (Peyton Bannon, now starting for Wisconsin) missed out on her senior season, along with three others for R-B, but Klopf doesn’t see the Rockets taking a big step back.

In two games, the Rockets have 29 runs on 23 hits, including seven home runs.

“We had a slow start Tuesday but once they get warmed up and their bats get going, the score speaks for itself,” Klopf said. “Not having last season, half of my team right now, I haven’t seen them play on the field except these first two games. Ideally, we pick up right where we left off. We lost some strong players, but I’ve got a whole roster full of strong kids.”

In the circle for the Rockets, Spohr allowed a two-run home run to opposing pitcher Gianna Carone in the first inning but allowed only one hit and two baserunners over the final four innings. She allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Spohr last pitched on her 12U travel team, but Klopf and the Rockets needed another pitcher to back up senior Jesse Klicker, who started Tuesday. Spohr looked comfortable in her first start despite some early nerves.

“I was nervous, but I needed to do anything to help the team,” Spohr said. “All they need me to do is get the ball over the plate because we have a good defense. I thought last year we had a chance to win it all, and I think we still have a good chance this year.”

Carone, a sophomore, went three innings for the Tigers, giving up five runs on six hits. Her home run in the first accounted for Central’s only runs. Freshman Giada Motto had two hits in her varsity debut and scored a run.

“We had a lot of people playing in their first varsity game, and you know, we’re trying to build something here,” Central coach Brian Strombom said. “It takes some time, but they’re working at it, and we showed some signs that we can compete. R-B is a great program and a very talented team. It’s not the best first-game matchup for anybody.”

Richmond-Burton 14, Crystal Lake Central 2 (5 inn.)

WP: Spohr (5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K). LP: Carone (3IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 4 BB, K).

Top hitters–CL Central: Motto 2-3 (R), Carone 1-3 (HR, 2RBI, R). Richmond-Burton: Baker 2-3 (2B, 3RBI, 2R), De Lucia 3-4 (HR, 3B, 3RBI, 3R), Davidson 1-1 (2B, RBI, R), Spohr 2-4 (2R), Regnier 1-2 (2B, RBI, R), Spittler 2-2 (RBI, 2R, SB), Adams 1-2 (RBI, R).