The West Chicago softball team needed just 5 innings to destroy any hope the Waubonsie Valley Warriors had of beating them during their first home game at Pioneer Park on a freezing day at the end of March.
The Wildcats were led by junior Jasmyn Trigueros on the mound, who went 1-2-3 to lead of the top half of the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, sophomore Sophia Patak got things started for the Wildcats with a single up the middle.
Then, senior Ellie Wingstedt drew a walk in the next at-bat. A passed ball led to 2nd and 3rd for the Wildcats and Trigueros would walk to set up senior Scout Gallagher who delivered for the Wildcats with a 2-run single which got the Wildcats going early on in the game.
More plays were made by Haylee Major who had an RBI ground to score Trigueros. There was a passed ball and Gallagher got to third. senior Miranda Enochs got an RBI single to put the Wildcats up 4-0.
The next two batters walked to set up bases loaded for the Wildcats, and Cora Garling walked to make the score 5-0. The Wildcats would bat around to lead Patak to get another hit, leading to another run for the Wildcats to make it 6-0 at the end of the first.
“I just wanted to get off to a fast and pick up right where left off last season,” Wingstedt said.
Trigueros was dominant all day on the mound, leading to 8 strikeouts and pitching a complete game shutout.
The Wildcats would continue to dominate in the game leading to a 10-0 slaughter, in which the game ended in the 5th inning.
The team missed their first two games of the year due to weather conditions. As such, the players and coach reported they were excited and ready to return to work after winning regionals last year.
“They have been waiting and waiting to play, and finally, today, they have been let out of the cage,” head coach Mary Kate Dieter said.
The coach hopes this will be the first win of many for the Wildcats in the 2024 season.
“I just want to go out there and play hard and have fun with the seniors for their final year,” junior Ava Pietanza said.