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| Catcher Alexis Mokos gets ready
to take the field in the first inning of Saturday's 10 a.m.
double-header Saturday (4-26-14) at Noll. Mokos hit her second home
run of the year in a 10-0 win. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
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|
Hanover's Ivy Dawson (5) scores on
a wild pitch in the second inning of HC's first game at Bishop Noll
Saturday. HC scored six times in the second inning and won 10-0. |
 |
|
Hanover coach Larry McMillen and
freshman Skylar Barnett (17) watch first game action at Bishop Noll
Saturday. Barnett had four hits in eights at bats as Hanover won
twice. |
 |
|
Noll catcher Monica Martin gets
ready for action against Hanover Central. Martin helped lead Noll to
a 10-1 start before Saturday's double-header loss to Hanover. |
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|
As shortstop Melissa Balkema backs
her up, Hanover pitcher Ashley Yoways (3) grabs this first inning
ground ball in game one of Saturday's double-header at Bishop Noll.
Yoways pitched both games as Hanover won 10-0 and 8-1. |
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| HC's Melissa Balkema (1) heads
for home on her third inning home run in game two of Saturday's
double-header at Bishop Noll. Balkema had four extra base hits and
HC won 8-1. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
|
| Team (Record) / Inning |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| HANOVER CENTRAL
(13-2) |
0 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
- |
- |
10 |
9 |
0 |
| Bishop Noll
(10-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
0 |
2 |
5 |
Saturday, April 26, 2014 -
Sunny, 47-degrees (Game-1) in HAMMOND,
IN
WP - Ashley Yoways (11-2)
CG, 8 K, 1 walk
LP - Ashley Gordish (4-2) CG, 2K, 1 walk, (3 earned runs)
HANOVER (13-2)
Ashley Yoways (P) 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI
Skyler Barnett (CF) 2-for-4
Alexis Mokos (C) 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Melissa Balkema (SS) 0-for-3
Sophia Barbosa (3B) 0-for-2, walk
Alyssa Gill (LF) 1-for-2, sac bunt
Ivy Dawson (2B) 1-for-1, 2 sac bunts
Caitlyn Rebenack (RF) 1-for-3, double, RBI
Kori Davis (1B) 0-for-2, sac fly, RBI
BISHOP NOLL (10-2)
Brittany Anderson (2B) 0-for-2
Elena Sobilo (SS) 0-for-2
Monica Martin (C) 0-for-2
Ashley Gordish (P) 1-for-1, walk
Tori Keilman (1B) 1-for-2, double
Meghan Whelan (DH) 0-for-2
Megan Mullaney (LF) 0-for-2
Rachel Sherbondy (LF) 0-for-1
Erin Mullaney (CF) 0-for-1
| Team (Record) / Inning |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Bishop Noll
(10-3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| HANOVER CENTRAL
(14-2) |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
- |
8 |
12 |
3 |
Saturday, April 26, 2014 -
Sunny, 47-degrees (Game-2) in HAMMOND,
IN WP -
Ashley Yoways (12-2) CG, 10 K, 4 walk
LP - Andie Fremouw (6-1) CG, 4K, 1 walk, (6 earned runs)
BISHOP NOLL (10-3)
Brittany Anderson (2B) 1-for-4, stolen base
Elena Sobilo (SS) 0-for-2, walk
Monica Martin (C) 0-for-3
Ashley Gordish (1B) 0-for-2, walk
Tori Keilman (3B) 0-for-3, double
Meghan Whelan (DH) 0-for-2, walk
Erin Mullaney (CF) 0-for-3
Andie Fremouw (DH) 0-for-3
Brianna Camacho (LF) 0-for-3
HANOVER (14-2)
Ashley Yoways (P) 1-for-4
Skyler Barnett (CF) 2-for-4
Alexis Mokos (C) 0-for-3, sac bunt
Melissa Balkema (SS) 4-for-4, 2 doubles, triple, HR, 3 RBIs
Sophia Barbosa (3B) 2-for-3, walk, 2 RBIs
Alyssa Gill (LF) 2-for-3, HBP
Ivy Dawson (2B) 1-for-3, RBI
Abby Thompson (RF) 1-for-3, RBI
Kori Davis (1B) 0-for-3
 HAMMOND (4-26-2014) When Hanover Central lost a couple of softball games for the first time this season on April 19 at the Crown Point Invitational, you could wonder what might happen next. By the next Saturday, you had that answer.
Last Saturday afternoon up at the north end of the county, Hanover ran its latest winning streak to six games with a Greater South Shore Conference (GSSC) double-header sweep of Bishop Noll 10-0 and 8-1. In what was thought to be a showdown for the top spot in the GSSC, Hanover improved to 7-0 in league play with two decisive wins.
Senior Ashley Yoways (11-2) pitched complete-game victories in both games. Catcher Alexis Mokos hit a two-run homer in game one while junior Melissa Balkema had four extra base hits and scored four runs in game two. In 45-degree weather, Noll (10-3) produced only three base hits in 12 innings of play and committed seven errors. It was surprising how much of a mismatch this pivotal league double-header was.
"We could have been 1-1 today or we could have been 0-2," said. "Instead we were 2-0 so there it is. I am not for playing both (league) games in the same day. We tried to find the dates and we couldn't match up. In the future, I'd like to play two league games on two days."
Since both games counted in the league standings, Yoways, Hanover's all-area right-hander, was asked to pitch both games and she was up for it, allowing just one unearned run in 12 innings, striking out 18 and allowing only three hits.
"She got a little tired at the end," said McMillan. "But she was good. Started to get a little high. Pitching high. She gave up some fly balls in the second game, but I'll take a fly ball over an eight-pitch strikeout." In game two, HC junior Melissa Balkema had two doubles, a triple and her second home run of the year. "I was just looking for a hit," Melissa said of the home run. "I thought she (left fielder Rachel Sherbondy) might catch it but it was out and coach said I could slow down."
Balkema, who started as a freshman in 2012, is now one of the older players on a Hanover team that starts four freshmen. The four, Mokos, third baseman Sophia Barbosa, center fielder Skylar Barnett and left fielder Alyssa Gill have been big contributors all year and were a combined 11 of 23 at Noll Saturday."
Our freshmen are amazing," Balkema said. "They've definitely stepped up and earned their spots in the top of the lineup."
McMillen, who has coached HC softball since its inception in the 1990s, seems to know he has a special team, but he also knows the biggest games have yet to be played.
"I haven't had a team that 1-through-9 can all put their bat on the ball like this one," he said Saturday. "Is it the best team we've ever had? I don't know. Ask me after the sectional." The only reason to be cautious about HC (14-2, 7-0 GSSC) is that they have not seen GSSC co-leader Wheeler (7-1, 5-0) yet due to weather postponements. HC is schedule to face Wheeler and undefeated left-hander Nickole Finch twice this week and they almost certainly will see the Bearcats in the Kankakee Valley Class 3A Sectional next month.
"I'm looking forward to facing Wheeler," said Balkema. "We haven't faced (Nickole) Finch. We've seen slower pitchers and I'm looking forward to playing them and seeing how we adjust."
CAT NOTES: Hanover Central's 5-3 win at Beecher, Illinois (15-5) last Thursday was HC's first win over Beecher in 12 years. Beecher was the 2004 and 2007 Class A Illinois state champ and they were 27-7 last season.
Hanover will host Munster in a rescheduled game on May 16 and that will be 'Senior Night'. HC hosts Greater South Shore Conference (GSSC) co-leader Wheeler Tuesday and plays at Wheeler Thursday at 5 p.m. Hanover's six consecutive wins follow an 8-0 start and two losses at the Crown Point Invitational. HC's 14-2 record after 16 games is the best record Hanover has had in softball since 1999, when then-freshman Beth Wendlinger was the pitcher.
Hanover started the 1999 regular season 5-0 and then won 18 consecutive games, The Lady Cats lost 1-0 to eventual state champion Morgan Township 1-0 in nine innings in the Class 2A sectional championship game at Hebron. Beth Wendlinger, who struck out 21 Morgan batters in that loss 15 years ago this May, is the older sister of present day Hanover assistant coach Amanda Wendlinger-Suarez. 
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Revised: August 27, 2014.
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