West Aurora wins 1st regional in 8 years

When it's been since 2007 that your program last won a regional championship, it's going to take more than a little - or a lot - of rain to slow you down.

West Aurora didn't mind the rain Saturday, outslugging Naperville North 11-5 to win the Class 4A West Aurora regional crown, the celebration photos afterward taken by smiling - and soaked - family and friends.

The Blackhawks (28-8) will play the winner of the Oswego regional between Naperville Central and Batavia on Wednesday in the Class 4A Downers Grove South sectional. That Oswego title game, like almost every other softball and baseball regional championship in the area, was postponed until Monday.

Not at West Aurora where the field held up. There was just a light drizzle for parts of the first four innings before the rain started coming down hard especially in the sixth and seventh inning.

"The weather was really good for the first four innings," West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. "The field was in great condition and thankfully we got off to the start we needed to. We came out this morning and checked the field and it looked like it hardly even rained. It was the right call to start it. When you see 100 percent rain you wonder are you going to get it in. I don't want to do any disservice to (Huskies coach Jerry Kedziora), those guys are a great team. I told him if it rains early, first, second or third, we'll call it and move it back. It's an IHSA state game, you want to get it all in in terms of giving them their at-bats."

Naperville North (19-15) did get those at-bats, and the Huskies were able to get to West Aurora starter Hannah Beatus more than most teams including a home run by Dani Biesiada, her 11th of the season that set a school record.

But the Blackhawks did much more damage to a pair of Huskies pitchers. Alex Hanselman, who pitched the first 1 1/3 innings, gave way to Biesiada for the next 2 innings, then came back in to get the last out of the fourth and pitch the fifth and sixth.

"These are tough conditions but both teams had to," Kedziora said. "They hit the ball real well today. One through nine they went after it. They got on Alex pretty quick and they figured out Dani right after that."

Blackhawks leadoff hitter Taylor Podschweit, after going 3-for-3 with a walk Thursday, went 3-for-4 with another walk and didn't make an out until her line drive was caught in her final at-bat.

That leaves her at 6-for-7 in the postseason - getting on base 8 of 9 times - with 2 doubles, a triple and a home run. She drove in 5 runs Saturday.

"She had a great day offensively and defensively," Kedziora said. "We were saying 'she's having a day.' She was one of the differences in the game and one of the big reasons they have gone this far."

West Aurora put up crooked numbers in each of the first 4 innings. Podschweit walked to start the game and quickly put the Blackhawks ahead when Beatus drove a double to right field. Kendall Podschweit made it 2-0 with a run-scoring infield single.

Corey McCreedy singled, stole second and scored on Taylor Podschweit's double off the right-field fence in the second inning. Beatus drove home Podschweit with a single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.

Naperville North pulled within 4-3 in the top of the third, a rally started by a couple walks and Kelsey Warren's single. Rachel Martin plated 2 runs with a single and Janelle Honaker drove in another with a double.

The Huskies could have scored more in the inning if not for a line drive to first baseman Kallie Rundle that turned into a double play, and a stellar play at shortstop by Taylor Podschweit for the third out.

West Aurora got the three runs back in the bottom of the third with one swing of Podschweit's bat, a 2-out rally with singles from No. 8-9 hitters Grace Hunger and McCreedy setting up Taylor Podschweit's home run over the right-field fence.

"That was a huge momentum boost," Beatus said. "Taylor always comes through for us. She is an amazing hitter. When that happened we knew we were good. She is almost impossible to get out."

The home run was Podschweit's seventh of the season. The University of Indianapolis recruit missed the postseason last year with an injury and is making up for lost time this year.

"I was just trying to get a base hit. It was high, I took it where it was going," Podschweit said. "Being out half the season last season was hard sitting out. It feels great to be back on the field and we're doing well. The team has been working really hard."

That 7-3 lead swelled to 11-3 in the fourth. Jessica Vargas drew a bases-loaded walk, Hunger doubled in 2 runs and Taylor Podschweit laced an RBI single.

The Huskies left the bases loaded in the sixth, Beatus getting two of the outs on called third strikes.

"You just have to settle in and calm down, take a deep breath and you are good to go," Beatus said. "At first it (the rain) was an adjustment, then I settled in."

Both Podschweits, Beatus, Cara Jimenez, Hunger and McCreedy all had multiple hit days for the Blackhawks who will enjoy a chance to scout their next opponent Monday before the sectional semifinals Wednesday.

"I think it is an advantage," Hayslett said of getting Saturday's game in. "I think we can do a little more damage."