By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/starsvgriffins **
St. Charles- The North Stars of St. Charles East bounced back after their first loss of the softball season to Barrington.
Hosting a non-league foe in Lincoln-Way East on April 12, the North Stars knew they could be in for another challenge.
After winning a state title in 2022, they know they carry a big target on their back each time they take the field, but this group isn’t worried much about that and look to take on anyone that challenges them.
Behind the strong, 3-hit pitching performance of senior Ava Goettel and the hitting of seniors-Julia Larson (3-4, 2B, 3-rbi), Leigh VandeHei (2-4), junior Maddie Hernandez (2-3, 2B) and sophomore Mackenzie Patterson (2-3), the North Stars pasted the Griffins, 9-1.
The visiting Griffins began the scoring in their first at-bat when senior shortstop’ Katie Stewart stroked a solo shot over the right center fence for the 1-0 lead.
The host did have a small rally in their half but left two runners stranded when Stewart made a nice back-handed catch of a soft liner to her right off the bat of Ginger Ritter, to end the threat.
Neither team crossed the plate over the next two innings. Goettel found her groove and was making pitches the Griffins struggled with, retiring the Griffins in order in the second and third innings.
Of the first ten batters Goettel faced, she struck out five of them.
For the North Stars, they evened the game at 1-1 in the third inning when Patterson opened their at-bats with a single and scored on Larsons double to right-center.
The North Stars took the lead that same inning when Larson crossed the plate on Sophia Olman’s single, taking a 2-1 lead after three innings.
The Griffins did threaten the following inning but a big strike out with two on snuffed out the opportunity.
The Momentum well on their side, the North Stars added to their lead during their fourth chance at the bat.
After an out, a double by Margo Geary followed by a single by Haley Nelson saw them score when Patterson reached base on a fielder’s choice and VandeHei singled, driving in the second run of the inning for the 4-1 lead after four.
After the home run in their first inning, the Griffins reached third base once the remainder of the game and added just two more hits as Goettel shut them down along with stellar defense behind her.
The Game was put out of reach when the North Stars plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by Larson and Megan Bauwens along with a double by Hernandez.
Also adding to the 14-hit onslaught was Paige Murray with a single.
The 9-1 victory sent the home crowd again having a satisfying taste of Victory. A taste they may savor many times this season.
Other North Stars contributing to their success include Ivy Gleeson, Erica Lillwitz, Abby Zawadzki, Skyla Ritter and AnnaMarie Vivirito.
The Griffins have a talented team and will rebound as they head into conference play behind the talents of Averi Vander Woude, Lea Herkel, Cassidy Jagielski, Lauren Bogard, Madeline Henry, Audrey Bullock, Kelly Raslavich, Maddie Raske, Aubrey O’Neil, Mackenzie Bacha, Claire Chanahan, Amanda Martineck, Madeline Hickey, Katie Stewart, Caleigh Geijer and Brianna Hagerty.