PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : El Modena Shuts Out Villa Park, Gets Revenge

Alexis Beckman pitched her fifth consecutive shutout to help El Modena achieve a measure of revenge with a 4-0 victory over host Villa Park in a Century League game Thursday.

Villa Park (18-5, 5-1 in league) had surprised El Modena this season with a 2-1 victory, so Thursday’s shutout felt especially good to Vanguard Coach Andy Koopman.

“In the loss, we played sloppy,” Koopman said. “Today, we played very good defense and we put the bat on the ball a little bit more.”

El Modena (13-3, 5-1) got to pitcher Tammy Kincaid for eight hits, but the freshman still struck out seven.

Center fielder Karen Bartkiewicz had three hits, a run batted in and scored twice for the Vanguards. In the fourth inning, Bartkiewicz singled and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Jenni Foyle. First baseman Brandee McArthur tried to double-off Bartkiewicz, who had taken a wide turn at second base on the play, but her throw sailed into center field, allowing Bartkiewicz to score.

In the sixth. Bartkiewicz singled, was sacrificed to second, then to third and scored on a wild pitch.

The Vanguards finished their scoring in the seventh. Amy Moreno walked, then stole second. Keri Burnside followed with an infield single, and Mandy Villa’s sacrifice bunt advanced Moreno and Burnside. Tara Novotchin’s infield single loaded the bases.

Third baseman Silvia Salgado tried to backhand Bartkiewicz’s sharp-hit grounder, but the ball bounced off her glove into foul territory and Moreno scored. Amy Foyle followed with a single over shortstop Kendra Wood to drive in Burnside.

Jenny Boroughs had Villa Park’s two hits, both singles.