Article posted: 6/9/2012 9:31 PM

Marist gives Bartlett the slip

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Bartlett catcher Kaylyn Zierke holds on to the ball after tagging out Marist's Nicole Babrowski at the plate in the first inning of the Class 4A softball state championship game between Bartlett and Marist.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Kaylyn Zierke, Amanda Montbriand and Tori Burke hoist the second place Class 4A softball state championship trophy after losing to Marist.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Bartlett receives its second-place medal after falling short against Marist in the Class 4A softball state championship game.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Bartlett watches the final out of the Class 4A state softball championship game against Marist.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

A dejected Bartlett bench reacts trailing by 5 runs late in the game against Marist in the Class 4A softball state championship game.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Marist's Haley Richy circles the bases, far right, behind a dejected Tori Burke, after hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning during Class 4A softball state championship game .

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

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Bartlett left fielder Alex Morales watches a grand slam by Marist's Haley Richy go over the fence as Marist claims a 5-0 victory in the Class 4A softball state championship game.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Bartlett beat No. 1 Glenbard North and defending champion Moline in a playoffs marked by upsets. Nobody, it turns out, was stopping the Marist Cinderella story. The RedHawks, 15-15 a month ago, completed a stunning postseason surge with a 5-0 win over Bartlett in Saturday's Class 4A state championship at EastSide Centre. "We made a great run," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said, "but unfortunately we ran into a team that was even hotter than we were." The celebration on the Marist side was relatively subdued, like the RedHawks (27-15) expected to be here. They were in the minority. Marist, which won its last 12 games to win its first state title, finished with the most losses by a softball champion. Only once before has a team won it all with double-digit losses.