With seven freshmen on the varsity, including two starting pitchers, Hinsdale South was in rebuilding mode this season.
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In an indication that the future looks bright, Madison Kern threw a three-hitter to carry the Hornets a 6-0 victory over Argo on Monday, May 25, in the Class 4A Marist Regional quarterfinal,.
Hinsdale South advanced to face top-seeded Marist Tuesday in the regional semifinal at 4:30 p. m. Tuesday at Marist.
Kern allowed only a single through 5 2/3 innings before Argo outfielder Taylor Lupo ripped a double to left-center field. The Argonauts (7-22-1) could not cash in on that scoring opportunity and also failed to score after loading the bases with one out in the seventh inning.
“I was really happy,” Kern said. “I can’t believe how fast I’ve come from my first game I pitched. This will help me [knowing I] can pitch this much.”
With Kern and Marissa Marrera alternating starts in their first varsity season, the Hornets (6-26) struggled to record wins. Kern and Marrera made their debuts in Orlando, Florida, when Hinsdale South won one game during a six-game trip in March.
“When we pitch, we have to put [the losses] behind us and learn from it,” Kern said. “I’m learning and mastering my pitches. Changing speeds and hitting my spots has helped.”
Kern said she realized that she would have chance to play on the varsity during the 2014 summer camp, although she expected to play on the JV. Over the summer, Kern and Marrera pitched to many of their future varsity teammates.
Against Argo, Kern went the distance in the circle while Marrera started at shortstop, where she registered three assists.
Junior Holli Jones has been catching for both Kern and Marrera this season. She went 2-for-3 with two RBI and swatted her fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning.
“I think it’s been fun seeing how they’ve gotten better over the season,” Jones said. “We’ve worked on developing their pitches and hitting spots. It’s my job as an upperclassman to calm them down.”
Marrera said helping her adjust to the varsity is that many of her teammates on her club team, the Darien Hornets, also play on the Hornets’ varsity.
“It’s been a little more harder because of the bigger hitters than the ones I am used to being able to get out,” Marrera said.
The other starting freshmen are second baseman Ellie Fichtelberg, left fielder Colleen Collins and right fielder Donna Stevens. Kaitlyn Little and Jenna Deolitsis come off the bench.
“From our record, [you can tell] we’ve started a lot of freshmen on the varsity level,” coach Kelly Van Hout said. “It will take time to catch up to that.”
Twitter @geomwilcox