There’s a first time for everything.
Junior catcher Olivia Liguori felt like she was in uncharted waters Tuesday for Bartlett while taking part in her first postgame interview.
She’ll have to get used to it if she keeps putting together games like this.
“She’s not that big, but she swings a heavy bat and she was in the zone (Tuesday),” Hawks coach Jim Wolfsmith said. “I’m sure she’d tell you the same thing.”
Liguori definitely had it going, hitting a program-record three home runs in leading Bartlett to a 17-8 nonconference victory over visiting Metea Valley.
All three homers were solo shots. One in the third inning went to left field and the other two — one to right-center, one to straightway center — came in an 11-run fifth inning.
The Hawks (4-1) sent 15 batters to the plate in a rally that put the game away, highlighted by Addison Koth’s second grand slam of the season.
It erased an 8-6 lead for Metea Valley (2-4). The Mustangs’ attack was highlighted by a double and three-run homer from Elena Gonzalez off Bartlett starter and winner Christina Stankus (4-1).
The grand slam was also the fifth homer this season for Koth, a senior first baseman and Maryville recruit who set a program record last season with 16 homers.
Liguori, who hit five homers last season, already has five this spring.
“I just work out a lot and work on getting stronger,” Liguori said, trying to explain the source of her power. “I lift a lot, and that’s helped me to gain more power and be able to hit it harder.”
Liguori is joined by twin sister Lauren, a slap hitter who leads off and plays shortstop. The Liguori sisters are fraternal twins.
Bartlett has another pair of juniors in his lineup with identical twins Julia and Grace Wilkens, who play center and left field, respectively.
“Grace and Julia, there are some mannerisms that are a little different,” Wolfsmith said. “Their hair length is a little bit different, but at first glance, it’s really hard to tell.
“My players know how to tell them apart. I’m still learning.”
Olivia Liguori is a couple inches taller than her 5-foot-1 sister.
“We’re very different hitters,” Olivia said. “I just enjoy having a built-in best friend on the team all the time.”
The twins squared are all in their third year as varsity starters for the Hawks.
“She’s taller than me, we work very hard, and she focuses at the plate,” Lauren Liguori said of her sister. “I’m happy to see her get three home runs.
“We’ve been waiting. She’s had two in a game before. Three is amazing.”
Lauren set the table, drawing three walks and reaching on a bunt single.
Grace Wilkens had three infield hits and scored four runs, while Emma Engels added three hits and Stankus helped her own cause with a single and a double. Stankus also walked twice and scored four times.
Only one of Metea Valley’s runs were earned.
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“They took advantage of our mistakes,” Wolfsmith said. “I thought Christina had a good game.”
Olivia Liguori said the Hawks need to “take a deep breath and focus on the next play” when the errors mount.
Stankus, who has had to pitch to Olivia Liguori in practice, doesn’t envy opposing pitchers.
“That girl can hit every ball you send her,” Stankus said. “It’s really hard to pitcher to her. She hits everything.”
On top of that, Liguori also does a lot of little things for the Hawks.
“She can play anywhere,” Wolfsmith said. “She’s probably one of our best third basemen and shortstops. She’s just a really good catcher. She blocks a lot of things in the dirt, has a really good arm.”
And handles interviews with aplomb.
