VandenHeuvel powers Green Bay East over Pulaski

PULASKI - In six of its eight wins entering Thursday’s key Fox River Classic Conference softball contest against Pulaski, Green Bay East had scored at least 10 runs, so when the Red Devils opened a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning it appeared East was on its way to another double-digit scoring day.

But would it translate into another win and keep East perfect in the FRCC?

In took a while, but yes. The Red Devils, behind a six-RBI performance from Tana VandenHevuel, outlasted the Red Raiders, 12-9, to move to 6-0 in conference play.

“We’ve been hitting extremely well this year,” East coach Tom Zimdars said. “Last game we only had five hits (in a 4-2 win), but almost every game we’ve had 10 to 12 hits.”

VandenHeuvel stars at the plate
VandenHeuvel showed why she bats cleanup for the Red Devils. She was 3-for-5 at the plate with two two-run triples, including one in the seventh inning.

VandenHeuvel said it was one of those days.

“It was one of those games I was on,” VandenHeuvel said. “Some games not so much, but today I was really on.”

Seventh inning runs not just padding the score
East led 9-5 entering the seventh inning and added three runs which at the time didn’t seem too important. As it turned out those runs enabled East to win without playing extra innings.

Zimdars said he never stopped talking to his players about swinging the bats and they listened as Pulaski coach Billi Jo Kapla tried to find the kryptonite for East’s offense by using three pitchers.

“(I said) just keep the bats hot, we have to keep swinging the bats,” Zimdars said. “I said, ‘No lead is big enough here.’ We’ve had games against this team like this.”

VandenHeuvel supplied the final two runs and she echoed her coach’s thoughts about not letting up on offense.

“It was really important because they kept hitting the ball and scoring so we had to do the same to stay above them,” VandenHeuvel said.

Huwe earns the win
East pitcher Charity Huwe threw five shutout innings, but allowed five runs in the fourth and four runs in the seventh. Zimdars said she didn’t have everything going, but it still was enough.

“She pitched five strong innings,” Zimdars said. “Her changeup wasn’t as effective today. She threw it too hard. I kept telling her to slow it down. She usually gets strikeouts with it. It didn’t happen but the bats were behind her and she helped herself.”

Huwe struck out two, walked four and allowed nine hits. She also had two hits and an RBI.

East remains on top of FRCC
With the win, East remains on top of the FRCC. Bay Port may have been the preseason favorite and Ashwaubenon (4-0 FRCC entering Thursday) has played well early but the Red Devils are displaying thus far they will be a factor in the conference race.

“Over the last eight years we’ve won about 120 games, so we’ve been doing some nice things here,” Zimdars said. “It’s because the girls are so dedicated and working hard.”

“I don’t really think we’re that big,” VandenHeuvel said. “We just go out and play our game.”

• Notes: Jamee Schleis was 3-for-5 with a triple, RBI and two runs for Pulaski, while Cassie Kornowski was 2-for-4, Kailey Evenson 3-for-5 with four runs, Whitney Gaines was 2-for-4 and Erin Dietz was 2-for-4. … Laci Kropp was 2-for-4 with two RBI for Pulaski, while Cassie Schultz was 2-for-4. … East left 10 runners on base, while Pulaski left seven on base.
• Game ball: VandenHeuvel, who drove in half of East’s runs.
• Numbers game: 18 Hits for East.

GREEN BAY EAST 12, PULASKI 9
Green Bay East…130 240 3 — 12 18 4
Pulaski…………...000 500 4 —  9   9  3

WP — Charity Huwe 7 IP, 2 K, 4 BB.
LP — Bailey Wirtz 3 IP, 6 R, 6 H, K, 2 HBP.

Records: Green Bay East 9-2, 6-0. Pulaski 4-3, 4-2.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com