Apr 15, 2015 3 min read

Helena Wolenski spent two years away from softball, but she missed the sport last spring. The Trinity junior joined the Hillers’ program last month and quickly gained the attention of her coaches.

Though Wolenski played well during the team’s trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Trinity head coach Shawn Gray cannot seem to remember her name, jokingly calling her, “H2.”

After Wednesday afternoon, Elizabeth Forward will know Wolenski’s name quite well.

In only her second varsity start, Wolenski hit a go-ahead two-run double in the second inning and the Hillers held on for a 9-3 victory over the Warriors in a Section 3-AAA game at Trinity Middle School.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Hillers had runners on first and second with two outs when Wolenski stepped to the plate. With a 1-2 count, Wolenski, who started at designated hitter, hit a line drive to left field, scoring both runners and giving Trinity the lead.

“I had two strikes on me and everyone was telling me to relax,” Wolenski said. “I saw a good pitch and I just took it.”

The Hillers (6-1, 10-1) moved into first place in the section and will face Elizabeth Forward (3-2, 6-3) again today on the road.

Trinity avoided disaster in the first inning.

Junior Paige Galentine, who earned the victory by allowing just three hits and striking out four, struggled with her command in the top of the first, walking the first two batters she faced.

Galentine recorded two outs before a passed ball gave Elizabeth Forward a 1-0 lead. Though she hit two batters and walked four, Trinity’s ace grew more comfortable as the game progressed, throwing the Warriors off balance with her changeup low and away.

EF two runs runs in the seventh inning on two walks with the bases loaded.

“We couldn’t come up with a solid hit. I think we had one or two all day,” EF head coach Harry Rutherford said. “I have to give credit to the pitcher for keeping us off balance all day. She did a great job throwing the changeup on them. You can’t win when you can’t make contact with the ball.”

After Wolenski’s two-run double in the second, Trinity increased its lead in the third inning on an RBI single by Delaney Elling, a sacrifice fly by Hali Justice and an RBI single by Galentine.

Hillers senior shortstop Olivia Gray, who went 2-for-3 with a run, gave Trinity a 6-1 advantage with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Shelby Clemens, and she added a two-run double in the sixth inning. Madison Hornak added an RBI infield single in the sixth.

After starting slow against Warriors starting pitcher Sarah Turek, the Hillers recorded 10 hits, including three doubles.

Everything changed with Wolenski’s hit.

“It’s her second start of the season and she came through,” Trinity head coach Shawn Gray said. “That’s big. Everyone was a little tight, but she’s rocking it this year. The key hits came through in the middle of the order, top of the order. Everyone came through and our lineup is starting to rock.”

With the first round of section play complete and sitting atop the standings, the Hillers have a chance to create separation with the Warriors today.

“We knew coming in it would probably be the biggest game of the season so far,” Olivia Gray said. “For us to win like we did was a big deal and we play them again so hopefully it carries over.”