Sports

Softball: T-Bolts Get Timely (Not Temporary) Help from Kelly Girls

Andrew 7, Joliet Central 3. Kelly Christner's RBI double sparks two-out rally; Katie Kelly finishes with two hits and three RBIs.

Touching All the Bases: Joliet Central struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by catcher Courtney Sowa, but Andrew bounced right would right back in the home half of the inning and went on to notch a 7-3 softball victory on a cold and dark Thursday afternoon. Third baseman Katie Kelly delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game 2-2. The T-Bolts capitalized on an error in the second to go ahead 3-2 and used a two-out rally in the sixth to put the game away. The rally was started when pitcher Kelly Christner reached on a fielder's choice. Katie Christner knocked her older sister in on a double into deep center. Then, a pair of Joliet Central errors allowed Katie Christner and Jenna Lenza to score. After Jessie Tucker reached on an error, Kelly connected again for an RBI single to make it 7-2. The Steelmen added a run in the top of the seventh, but the game ended on unassisted double play turned in by T-Bolts first baseman Shannon Rust.

Patch's MVP:  third baseman Katie Kelly, she went 2-for-2 with two singles and three RBIs. She also was hit by a pitch and dropped down a sacrifice bunt.

Andrew Leaders: Aside from Kelly, pitcher Kelly Christner was 1-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base. On the mound, she pitched six innings, gave up three earned runs, walked one and struck out four. Katie Christner was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a sacrifice fly and two runs scored. Brooke Hofer was 2-for-4 with two singles, a run scored and a stolen base.

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Joliet Central Leaders: Kiara Collins had a pinch-hit RBI single. Courtney Sowa was 2-for-3 with single and an RBI.

Quotable: Andrew coach Jim Holba: "It was a strange game. We're not playing a full game yet. I'm not sure why. This was not a complete effort. Katie (Christner) did really well for us on the mound. We did not show our prowess in hitting, but at least we did show up in the last inning."

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Team Records: The T-Bolts improved to 3-4. Joliet Central is 1-8.

What's Next: Andrew travels to Richards on Friday and faces Oak Forest Saturday.


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