The notion of pitching a perfect game didn’t hit Lauren McConnell until the result was submitted to Marquette’s athletic office.
“At first, I didn’t know I had it,” the Blazers junior said. “That’s what you strive to do. I just pitched it and I didn’t even know. I have to thank my teammates because I wouldn’t have done it without them. I didn’t strike out every single girl. I’m grateful for my teammates.”
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After McConnell pitched that perfect game against Covenant Christian on April 11, with 14 strikeouts in six innings, she had another one in her next start. The Purdue Fort Wayne recruit had 13 strikeouts in five innings against Clark on April 15.
Two days later, McConnell nearly made it three in a row, carrying a perfect game for 4 1/3 innings against River Forest before allowing a bunt hit. She settled for a two-hitter, on another bunt, with 11 strikeouts in five innings.
McConnell didn’t surrender a run in her first five starts, including a season-opening tie against New Prairie and a no-hitter April 8 against Hammond, before a 4-2 loss Thursday to Wheeler.
McConnell had 80 strikeouts in 42 innings after a 3-2 loss to Greater South Shore leader Hanover Central in the opener of a Saturday doubleheader..
Her father, Shaun McConnell, is in his second full season as Marquette’s coach.
“She was lights out until Wheeler,” Shaun McConnell said.
The McConnell family has enjoyed the dynamic. Shaun has coached Lauren since she was 6, and they’ve created plenty of memories traveling to tournaments, camps and college visits.
“He has my back in all situations,” Lauren said. “He expects a lot from me, but I expect a lot from myself.”
Lauren’s mother and Shaun’s wife, Nicole, is the Blazers’ assistant, having also been heavily involved in travel ball. And her sister Ally is a freshman third baseman.
“We never played on any team together, so it’s special,” Lauren said.
Lauren McConnell, who also plays shortstop, was hitting .739 (17-for-23).
She went 11-4 with a 1.17 ERA last season with 171 strikeouts in 90 innings. She hit .732 with five homers and 34 RBIs.
McConnell, who committed in February, plans to study biology.
“Not having to look for a college is less stressful,” she said. “But I just have to keep working harder and harder. I want to get prepared for Division I and I want our team to have as much success as possible. We’re going in a great direction.”
Hanging in: In the last two-plus seasons, Bishop Noll’s only Greater South Shore Conference losses have come to Hanover Central.
The Warriors split in 2015, got swept last season and lost 7-0 last Monday to be 1-4 against the Wildcats over that span.
Noll coach Rich Sobilo was encouraged after the most recent game with the Wildcats.
“We can compete with that team,” he said. “They’re a very, very good team.
“We just have to take care of business in the conference and get another chance at them.”
The teams are scheduled to play May 12 at Noll.
Taking notice: Hanover Central has generated a buzz in the community, particularly with its offense.
“We’ve been getting a lot of attention for it,” Wildcats coach Amanda Suarez said. “You run into local people at the grocery store or just the kids at school, and they say, ‘Are you really hitting that well?’ We are, we just are.”
The Wildcats have talented players and also have made a concerted effort.
“A lot of the girls go to hitting lessons, a lot of the girls hit all winter,” Suarez said. “We started hitting in the cages as soon as the season started and we take swings at practice every day. There are those days when you’re fatigued, but we still hit at least some.
“We’ve focused on situational hitting. Protect with two strikes or look for your pitch with no strikes. We’ve done more of that this year.”
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TOP 10
With records through Friday, based on results reported to the Post-Tribune, and last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Crown Point 11-0 (1)
2. Hanover Central 11-0 (2)
3. Lake Central 13-3 (3)
4. Munster 8-5 (4)
5. LaPorte 9-3 (6)
6. Andrean 5-2 (5)
7. Kankakee Valley 6-3 (10)
8. Chesterton 8-5 (7)
9. Boone Grove 9-1 (8)
10. Bishop Noll 8-2 (9)
Player of the Week: Kankakee Valley’s Kaylee Barrett went 4-for-5 with two homers, a triple, double and seven RBIs Tuesday in an 18-6 win over Boone Grove.