When Amanda Weyh hit a two-run homer for Lincoln-Way Central on Thursday against Lincoln-Way East, she was more than surprised.
“I was kind of in shock,” Weyh said. “I wasn’t expecting that. I was just trying to put the ball in play to score some runs. It felt really good.”
The blast broke a 7-7 tie and sent Central in its way to a 12-7 victory in eight innings. Weyh was also the winning pitcher.
Just another typical day for a player that Knights coach Jeff Tarala calls “the definition of a dual threat.”
The junior has been contributing in all aspects for Central (5-1).
Weyh is 4-1 as a pitcher, and is batting .565 with three doubles, one triple, one home run and 13 RBIs. She has also played at shortstop and in the outfield.
“Amanda is short and compact to the ball,” Tarala said. “She very rarely has a bad at-bat. She usually works counts when she can, and picks her spots when to swing.
“Quite frankly, she might be the best two-strike hitter I’ve ever worked with. When she has two strikes it’s like she doesn’t have any. It doesn’t seem as if it has any impact on her. She’s as steady as it comes.”
Weyh was 2-for-3 with three RBIs against East, and 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs on Tuesday in a 9-5 victory over Lake Park.
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“I’ve been working on my hitting a lot, trying to improve,” Weyh said. “I’ve been concentrating on mechanics, seeing different pitches and the movement of the ball.”
Finding it: Junior pitcher/infielder Angela Zedak hasn’t been happy with her results at the plate of late for Marist. She decided to do something about it.
The Northwestern recruit met up with hitting coach John Donavan on Thursday, looking for some answers.
A pair of home runs in Saturday’s 10-3 victory over Downers Grove North in the Providence Invitational semifinals spoke for the results.
“One went out on a line drive and the other one over the parking lot fence (in right field),” RedHawks coach Colleen Biebel said. “They worked on her swing and it sure worked (on Saturday).”
The big day raised Zedak’s average to .500 (8-for-16). She has eight RBIs and six runs.
“Angela has more power than any high school player I’ve ever seen,” Biebel said. “We have a ton of speed at the top of our lineup, and having her as our No. 3 hitter puts us in a good spot to score runs early.”
Marist will play Lockport for the tournament title at a date to be determined.
On her own: Opponents can forget about stealing signs when T.F. South leadoff hitter Jacquelyn Davidson comes to the plate.
Rebels coach Dave Klupchak won’t be flashing any from third base.
“She is on her own for bunting, slapping, and swinging away when she decides to,” Klupchak said. “She’s a smart kid who knows the game. She makes her own decisions.”
Davidson, a junior shortstop, made all the right decisions on Thursday in South’s 10-4 victory over Crete-Monee. She was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs for the Rebels (2-2).
“She’s been swinging a real good bat for us,” Klupchak said. “She’ll show the bunt and get the third baseman in, and then she’ll spray the ball to right-center or left-center.
“I originally had her in the leadoff spot because she’s left-handed and I knew she could bunt. But she’s shown me more than I thought she had. Plus, she’s a team leader in voicing her opinion and has played a solid shortstop.”
Through four games, Davidson has just one error.
Twitter @tbaranek
Top 10
Records included through Sunday, with last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Marist 5-0 (2)
2. Lincoln-Way Central 5-1 (6)
3. Lincoln-Way East 4-1 (1)
4. Lockport 1-1 (4)
5. Beecher 4-0 (5)
6. Tinley Park 5-1 (7)
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7. Sandburg 4-3 (3)
8. Richards 3-0 (8)
9. Evergreen Park 4-2 (10)
10. Joliet Catholic 3-1 (NR)
Player of the Week: Sophomore first baseman Molly Ryan was 5-for-9 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs for Lincoln-Way West.