Natanek does it again for Stagg in opener
St. Xavier-bound senior catcher homers as Chargers slip past Richards to kick off season
There were a couple of reasons why Stagg senior Morgan Natanek wasn’t trying to clear the fence in the seventh inning Tuesday against Richards.
The Chargers were down by two runs with the bases loaded. The situation called for a sure swing.
“All I needed was a base hit to score some runs,” Natanek said. “I was just looking for contact.
“Also, I wasn’t trying to hit a home run because when I do, I usually wind up popping out.”
Of course, Natanek hit a towering drive down the left field line that cleared the 200-foot fence by plenty to lift the Chargers to an 8-7 nonconference victory.
Natanek added an RBI double and some steady play behind the plate for Stagg (1-0). Ava Zukowski reached base four times, while Erin Cowe added two hits and earned the save.
Meghan Wirtz led Richards (0-1) with a double, triple and home run. Abby Mallo had two doubles.
Stagg coach Justin Hawker didn’t spare the praise for Natanek in the preseason either, calling her “the definition of Charger pride.”
His opinion didn’t change Tuesday.
“She’s the captain of our team — she’s the leader,” Hawker said. “She does it all. She wants to be here every day, and she came here this season ready to work.”
Natanek, a St. Xavier recruit, bats out of the cleanup spot in the lineup. Last season she hit .368 with seven homers and 27 RBIs.
“She’s a power hitter with a big stick, and today she got one,” Hawker said. “Her offseason training in the gym is second to none. Her effort was rewarded with an opportunity to continue playing at St. Xavier.”
Natanek found her college home while playing summer ball.
“It all happened so fast,” Natanek said. “I played with a couple of girls who were already on St. Xavier as freshmen. They were playing with us because they had one more year of eligibility.
“I wasn’t going to play until July came and they were like, ‘You have to come and play with us.’ So I reached out to the coach, she came out to see my games and she offered me that day.”
Natanek’s home run Tuesday put the Chargers in front 8-6. But Richards wasn’t through.
The first two batters reached in the bottom of the seventh before Violet McIntyre sent a single up the middle. Mallo raced around third and headed for home, but the throw to the plate by center fielder Jai Gutierrez beat the runner.
Mallo made a brilliant slide and avoided the tag but missed the plate. Natanek kept her focus and won an athletic battle of moves to earn the out.
“I was just thinking, ‘You can’t let her score,’ ” Natanek said, laughing. “There was no way I was letting her get back to the plate.”
Wirtz, by far, had the most interesting game for Richards.
The sophomore second baseman, hitting ninth in the order, drove a triple to the wall to start the third inning.
In the top of the fifth she was covering at first base on a slap play when the throw glanced off her glove. A moment later she was sent flying by Stagg’s Shannon DeGonia.
Richards coach Julie Folliard and her staff spent several minutes with Wirtz, who jogged to the dugout for a drink and then raced back out to play defense.
“She got me in the nose and forehead area,” Wirtz said. “It happened really fast. At the very last second I put my arms up to protect myself.
“I was OK. It was just a bit of shock.”
Wirtz led off the bottom of the fifth and sent a fly ball over the fence in center. In the next inning, she went back-to-back with Bridget Walsh for RBI doubles to give Richards the lead.
Tough kid.
“Oh, she’s a tough kid, all right,” Folliard said of Wirtz. “After she got hit, she just needed a little Gatorade. It worked out great for her. She’s a terrific, feisty player.”