NI Lightning takes 4th at nationals

The Northern Illinois Lightning 18U travel softball team ended the season this weekend by finishing higher than any team in Lightning history at an ASA Junior Olympic national tournament — placing fourth at the ASA Northern Nationals in Overland Park, Kan.

After splitting its pool play games, beating the Iowa Pride 7-0 and losing to Team Power from Kansas City 4-3, the Lightning won its first three bracket games, beating the Kansas Blue Ice 7-4, the Missouri Heat 5-0 and Team Power 7-2. The team then suffered a tough 1-0 loss to the Illinois Black Widows, a team that went on to finish second in the tournament.

The Lightning then eliminated the New Lenox Lightning 5-2 before being eliminated by Team Power 6-2 in the third-place game.

“Every win we had was a complete team win,” said Lightning manager Elissa Wisniewski, who was recently named the new head softball coach at Libertyville High School. “Our pitching was fantastic and our defense was solid. We also brought the bats when we needed it.

“We took care of the little things but the biggest reason we won was the energy, heart and soul the girls played with. They came together and decided that this is what they wanted to do and they got it done. It was fun to watch and listen to them compete. I was just trying not to get in their way. I’m extremely proud of them and how they represented themselves, our team and the Lightning.”

Team members at the tournament included Alyssa Vechiola (Stevenson), Lara Horwitz (Stevenson), Genny Duffy (Stevenson), Nikki Surico (Prospect), Hannah Mahoney (Crystal Lake South), Nicole Beck (Bartlett), Melany Love (Dundee-Crown), Sarah Leudo (Cary-Grove), Katie Kirker (Jacobs), Marissa Lombardo (Jacobs), and Lisa Matsie (Bartlett). The team’s assistant coach was Deanna Warkins.

The Lightning is holding tryouts for the 2011-12 season this week at Judson University in Elgin. For more information, log on to www.eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning or call (847) 812-1522.