Schaumburg's comeback kids win 30th straight
Crushing a state record-tying 65 home runs, Schaumburg's softball team has been known for its longball power all season.
But any successful team is versatile.
In a period of two days, the Saxons collected 20 hits without one going over the fence.
The 18 singles and 2 doubles led to winning a Class 4A regional title on Monday and then a Rolling Meadows sectional semifinal on Tuesday as the Saxons came from behind three times for a 10-6 victory over Mid-Suburban West rival Conant.
Top-seeded Schaumburg (31-1), which has won 30 straight, will face No. 2 St. Charles North (28-5) for the championship at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Fifth-seeded Conant (23-8) used a pair of 2-run homers by sophomore third baseman Morgan Bihun and junior catcher Dream Aaron to lead 2-0 and 4-2.
The Saxons scored 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-4 - only to fall behind again 6-5 when Cougars senior first baseman Hailey Rothstein delivered a 2-run, two-out single to right in top of the fifth.
But the Mid-Suburban League champs finally got the lead for good with 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth.
"It was a game of answering back and not letting their big hits get us down," said Saxons coach Ellen Abreu who has directed the Saxons to their first sectional appearance since 1990. "We kept our composure and played intense all the way.
"It was another game where we showed anybody in the lineup can make a difference."
One day after No. 9 hitter Kaiden Jackson went 3-for-3, it was No. 8 hitter Roxy Kakareka going 3-for-3 with 3 RBI.
"They weren't my best hits but they found holes," said Kakareka, a senior right fielder. "We played them (Conant) twice already this season (6-4 and 7-0 wins) so we knew they would come out tough," Kakareka said. "When they were hitting the ball like they were, we knew we had to come right back and do something.
"We worked so hard this season. We knew we had to keep fighting back."
The Saxons fought back to tie the game at 2-2 in the second inning with an RBI double to deep right field by Michelle Birkholz (2-for-4) and an RBI single by Kakareka.
Pitcher Paige Alt (21-0), who tossed a 5-hitter with 6 strikeouts, led off the inning with a single to center and scored on Birkholz' double.
In the Saxons' 3-run fourth inning, Christina Candotti (hit by pitch), Birkholz (single) and Kakareka (single) all crossed the plate. One run scored when Jackson reached on an error.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game coming in," said Conant coach Cathyann Smith. "We told the girls they had to leave it all on the field. Our seniors are irreplaceable. These girls made their mark on Conant softball and I wish the best for them in the future.
"Dream Aaron (junior catcher) and Sara Neuman (junior pitcher) played their hearts out. I couldn't have asked anything more of them."
After Rothstein's single gave Conant its last lead at 6-5, the Saxons responded with their best inning of the game.
The bottom of the fifth started with Conant senior center fielder Elisa Ambrose robbing Alt of extra bases. Ambrose made a terrific running catch right at the fence.
But Candotti got things rolling again for Schaumburg with a double down the left-field line and Natalie Napier reached on an error.
Kakareka, Jackson, Elaine Walker and Sarah Schwind all reached safely with hits to help the Saxons push across the 5 runs that proved enough for Alt, who also went 2-for-4 at the plate.
"Every time they scored, we answered," said Walker, who has hit safely in all but one game this season and has belted 23 honers. "We knew it would be tough to beat a team three times. Paige pitched so well. She never got down on herself."