Softball Delivers During Spring Break Trip
Game 1
The John Wood Blazers softball team took down NECC Hawks 5-4 on Friday at Diamondplex for their first game of their 2026 Spring Break trip.
Tanner homered to center field, which helped the Blazers tie the game at two in the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the third, JW broke up the tie when Ritterbusch singled, scoring one run. Then an error followed to extend the lead to 5-2.
Stevens earned the win for the Blazers. The starting pitcher gave up 10 hits and four runs (zero earned) over five and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one. Gilker tossed one and one-third innings of zero-run ball in relief. The righty allowed five hits, striking out two and walking one.
Tanner and Dean were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits while hitting back-to-back. Tanner provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led JWCC Blazers with two runs batted in. The left-handed hitter went 2-for-3 on the day.
Game 2
The John Wood Blazers defeated RCTC Yellowjackets 14-2 thanks in part to nine runs in the second inning. Those nine runs consisted of a steal of home scored one run, an error scored one run, an error scored one run, Lewis singled, scoring one run, Pedersen tripled, scoring one run, Dean singled, scoring one run, and Gerleman homered to right field, scoring three runs.
JW added to their early lead in the top of the third inning after Pedersen doubled to left field, and Dean singled down the left field line, each scoring one run.
Game 3
Ritterbusch collected three hits in four at bats, as the John Wood Blazers defeated Hawkeye Redtails 8-4 on Saturday of their spring break trip. Ritterbusch doubled in the first inning, singled in the third inning, and singled in the fourth inning.
JW Blazers jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Dean singled, scoring one run, and Ritterbusch doubled, scoring two runs.
A single by Gerleman, and a sacrifice bunt by Pfaff helped JW extend their early lead in the third.
Dean started the game for JW, and the right-handed pitcher gave up five hits and four runs (three earned) over five and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking four. Gilker pitched one and one-third innings of shutout ball for JW in relief. The reliever gave up one hit, striking out none and walking two.
Harshbarger and Dean each collected multiple hits for the Blazers. JW had a strong eye at the plate, collecting five walks for the game, and stole four bases in the game. The Blazers turned two double plays in the game.
Game 4
Adorno drove in four runs on two hits to lead the John Wood Lady Blazers past Schoolcraft College for a 18-3 victory in their second game of their 2026 Spring Break trip. Adorno singled in the sixth scoring two, doubled in the fifth scoring one, and sacrifice bunted in the sixth scoring one.
The Blazers scored 11 runs in the sixth inning on the way to victory. Harshbarger laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one run, Adorno laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one run, Pedersen singled, scoring two runs, Tanner singled, scoring one run, Gunther drew a walk, scoring one run, Buckner drew a walk, scoring one run, Jackson was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, Adorno singled, scoring two runs, and Pedersen singled, scoring one run.
JW Blazers jumped out to the lead in the top of the second inning after an error scored one run, and Harshbarger singled, scoring two runs.
A walk by Harshbarger extended the Blazers lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning.
Stevens earned the win for the Blazers. The starter gave up six hits and one run over four and one-third innings, striking out none and walking three. Gilker appeared in relief for the Blazers.
JWCC Blazers accumulated 14 hits in the game. Tanner led the Blazers with four hits in six at bats. Pedersen and Stupavsky each collected multiple hits for JW. JW had patience at the plate, accumulating 10 walks for the game. Smith and Gilker led the team with two free passes each. The Blazers ran wild on the base paths, accumulating four stolen bases for the game, and turned one double play in the game.
Game 5
Both teams piled up a bunch of runs, but the John Wood Blazers fell to Waubonsee Chiefs Softball 18-17 for their third game of the trip. Waubonsee Chiefs Softball collected 13 hits, while John Wood had 13.
The Blazers fell behind by 10 runs in the third inning, but then tried to fight back, and closed the gap by scoring on a home run, a single, a single, a double, a double, a walk, a walk, a walk, a single, and a double.
John Wood scored eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third inning. Tanner homered to center field, scoring two runs, Pfaff singled, scoring one run, Adorno singled, scoring two runs, Dean doubled, scoring two runs, and Tanner doubled, scoring one run.
Gilker pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief for JW. The reliever surrendered five hits and six runs (three earned) while, striking out one and walking three, but Dean took the loss for JW. The starting pitcher went two and one-third innings, giving up 11 runs (three earned) on eight hits, striking out one and walking none.
The Blazers piled up 13 hits in the game. Dean provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led the team with five runs batted in. The pitcher went 2-for-3 on the day. Adorno and Pedersen each collected three hits for the Blazers. Tanner collected two hits in four at bats. JW had patience at the plate, piling up 14 walks for the game. Pfaff and Dean led the team with three bases on balls each.
Game 6
The John Wood softball team took down Waubonsee Chiefs Softball 6-2 in Game 4 of their Spring Break trip.
Dean singled down the left field line, which helped John Wood tie the game at one in the top of the third.
A single by Jackson gave John Wood the lead, 2-1, in the top of the fourth.
The Lady Blazers took the lead in the top of the fifth inning after Waubonsee Chiefs Softball committed an error, Gerleman singled to center field, and Ritterbusch grounded out, each scoring one run.
Stevens earned the win for the Blazers. The righty surrendered four hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out three and walking three.
Ritterbusch, Jackson, and Gerleman each drove in one run for JW. Dean led the Blazers with three hits in four at bats, and Tanner led with three walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, amassing four walks for the game. Dean stole two bases out of the total four bases in the game. The Blazers turned one double play in the game.
Game 7
The John Wood Blazers fell to Triton Trojans 3-2 on Monday on the final play of the game. The game was tied at two in the bottom of the eighth when Ortiz singled, scoring one run.
The pitching was strong on both sides, with John Wood setting down four.
Stevens led things off in the circle for JWCC Blazers. The hurler gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) over seven and one-third innings, striking out four and walking three.
Ritterbusch, Tanner, Pfaff, and Stupavsky each collected one hit for John Wood. The outfield was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Adorno had the most chances in the field with five.
Game 8
Concordia University Bulldogs scored 11 runs in the fifth inning, which helped them defeat The Lady Blazers 18-3 on Monday in their final game of their 2026 Spring Break trip.
Concordia University Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the first inning after a single to center field, a grounder into a fielder's choice, and a single to center field, each scoring one run.
Gilker took the loss for John Wood. The hurler went three innings, giving up 14 runs (five earned) on 11 hits, striking out none and walking five. Dean started in the circle for the Blazers. The starting pitcher gave up five hits and four runs (zero earned) over two innings, striking out none and walking none.
Smith, the number seven hitter for JWCC Blazers, led the way with two runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-2 on the day. Smith, Tanner, Whitney, and Pedersen each collected one hit for JWCC Blazers.
John Wood softball returns to actions on Saturday March 21st at Lincoln Land CC for a doubleheader with a 1:00pm start ime.