St. Charles East freshman Rylee Stout had a lot to be excited about last month. First off, she made a varsity team that returned seven starters from a 33-win team that finished second in Class 4A.
On Wednesday against Lake Park at the Rosemont Dome, Stout was even more excited when she got her first start — batting ninth and catching. She made the most of it.
Stout went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBI in leading the Saints to a 7-4 win.
“It was a surprise to start and I was a little nervous,” Stout said. “It was a lot of fun being able to play to today and to get the hits when we needed it. I know I have to work hard to get that spot.”
St. Charles East coach Kelly Horan was pleased with her entire team and might have some tough personnel decisions to make.
“It’s tough to keep kids out of the lineup that hit,” Horan said. “We’re still not playing well right now but it was nice to see that freshman play well on both ends of the ball.”
Olivia Cheatham and Sarah Collalh had two hits each for the No. 13 Saints (2-0) off pitchers Steph Sturino (3 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 0 K, 1 BB) and Julie Baumgart (3 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 K, 0 BB). Dena Guthrie and Julia Caesar had two hits each for the Lancers (0-2).
The Saints scored two runs in the first on an error and a sacrifice fly by Kate Peterburs that scored Cheatham (single) and Collalh (single). A double in the second by Stout scored Jordyn Hieber for a 3-0 lead.
A run in the bottom of the second and two in the third by the Lancers tied the game at 3. Nicole Tsiodras had an RBI single in the second scoring Caesar (single) and Steph Sturino converted a squeeze bunt in the third scoring Ashlyn Worcester (double). Sturino later scored on a fielder’s choice.
Run-producing singles by Cheatham and Stout in the fourth gave the Saints the lead for good at 5-3.
“I liked the fact we put pressure on us early,” Lake Park coach James Chellson said. “I liked our mental approach and a lot better effort today against a very strong St. Charles East team.”
