St. Laurence Downs Bishop McNamara in High-Scoring Affair

Vikings capitalize on Irish errors to secure 16-6 victory

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a softball game, with players and the field deconstructed into abstract shapes and angles.A cubist interpretation of the high-scoring softball matchup between Bishop McNamara and St. Laurence, highlighting the strategic battle and athletic prowess of both teams.Wheaton Today

In a battle between two strong softball programs, the St. Laurence Vikings defeated the Bishop McNamara Fightin' Irish 16-6 on Saturday. The Vikings took advantage of three Irish errors, scoring nine runs with two outs to pull away for the win. Bishop McNamara's Gabby Burnett hit a first-inning home run, but the Vikings' efficient small-ball approach and clutch two-out hitting proved too much for the young Irish squad.

Why it matters

This nonconference matchup provided an early-season test for both teams, with Bishop McNamara looking to prove its talent despite a young roster, and St. Laurence seeking to build on its fourth-place finish in Class 3A last season. The outcome highlighted the Vikings' ability to capitalize on mistakes and their knack for timely two-out hitting, while also showcasing the potential of the Fightin' Irish lineup.

The details

St. Laurence out-hit Bishop McNamara 20-11 and scored eight unearned runs due to Irish errors. The Vikings broke the game open with a five-run third inning, including a three-run home run from Bella Pratscher. Though the Irish rallied with a three-run sixth, St. Laurence answered with five insurance runs in the seventh to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Bishop McNamara will return to Chicagoland Christian Conference play on Monday, hosting Wheaton Academy.

The players

Jenna Arseneau

First-year Bishop McNamara softball coach who previously coached the team at the junior varsity level.

Teagan Walsh

Head coach of the St. Laurence Vikings, who led the team to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A last season.

Bella Pratscher

St. Laurence player who hit a three-run home run as part of the Vikings' five-run third inning.

Gabby Burnett

Bishop McNamara player who hit a first-inning home run to give the Fightin' Irish an early lead.

Rhaya DePaolo

Bishop McNamara player who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“'They're base for base players and that's what you need in a team. You don't always need a home run, you need the small ball. They did very well with the small ball and out-hit us. We had a couple of mental mistakes and they just took advantage.'”

— Jenna Arseneau, Bishop McNamara Head Coach

“'Another thing we've worked on in practice is fouling pitches off, not being the last out, quality at-bats, which is being a hard out, being a productive out. It's really good to see that translating to the game.'”

— Teagan Walsh, St. Laurence Head Coach

What’s next

Bishop McNamara will look to bounce back in Chicagoland Christian Conference play on Monday when they host Wheaton Academy.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the contrasting strengths of the two teams, with St. Laurence's efficient small-ball approach and ability to capitalize on mistakes proving too much for the young but talented Bishop McNamara squad. The Fightin' Irish showed flashes of their potential, but will need to shore up their defense and continue developing their clutch hitting to compete with top programs like the Vikings.