Romeoville’s Abby Smith Gets Team Started

Monday’s matchup against Joliet Catholic Academy was not a pretty one as the Angels beat the Spartans 11-1.

Yet the play of sophomore center fielder Abby Smith sure was pretty.

When Romeoville’s players had holes in their bats against Joliet Catholic’s Mallory Goulding, who pitched a one-run complete game for the win, Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI triple and reached base on an error.

Opening the game as the Spartans leadoff hitter, Smith was facing some heat from Goulding as she knew adjustments needed to be made so her team could come back from a 1-0 deficit.

“It was in a gap as a grounder and should have been up a little more,” Smith said. “I fought the first pitch but my coach (Christina Douglas) told me that Goulding was throwing inside so I had to turn a little bit and that helped me out.”

Smith’s single past JCA shortstop Tori Johnson started a rally as left fielder Jessica Kehoe reached on an error and designated player Jami Shawmeker walked. However, Romeoville could not force a run through as Goulding got a strikeout and two pop ups to end the inning.

The Spatans’ lone run came in the second with two outs and right fielder Kaylee Cranston on first. Smith pushed the count to 2-2 as she then hit the ball passed Joliet Catholic right fielder Kayla Zembruski for an RBI triple.

“My coach again told me where the pitch was coming from, so that helped a lot,” Smith said. “I turned the right way and luckily, the girl on base was smart with her base running and scored to help me get an RBI.”

The fifth had Smith punch a towering infield pop up landing in play as Zembruski and teammate Kayla Borgra collided into each other.

Zembruski came back in the sixth with a phenomenal hit to deep left-center off Romeoville pitcher Elaina Caron. The ball surely would have cleared the park, but Smith stabbed at the ball, nearly caught it though could not hold on as Zembruski settled for a double.

“That was probably one of the most aggravating ones today, not even the home runs” Smith said. “It was because it was so close. I could have gotten it, but I could have used a little more effort. I take the blame for that all the way. Holding her to a double was good for me.”

Douglas said her team did not perform well, but Smith’s play was exceptional.

“Abby had a phenomenal day and almost made a great catch in the outfield,” Christina Douglas said. “She started us off and we couldn’t get us in. She was our spark plug, but that’s one out of nine or 10, that’s not going to do it.”

Douglas said Smith is the team’s leadoff hitter and the outfield captain who “starts everything offensively and defensively for us.”

For Romeoville’s upcoming games, Smith said as outfield captain, she has to position the outfielders properly and ready for every pitch while her teammates what pitches are being used as the leadoff hitter.