This time, New Trier ousts Warren
It was going to take a lot of doing for upset-minded New Trier to get revenge on top-seeded Warren Tuesday in the Glenbrook South Class 4A softball sectional semifinals.
But in the end, the No. 6-seeded Trevians did just that. They forced extra innings with a run in the top of the seventh, before pulling out a 3-2 victory in eight innings to oust the defending state champions from the tournament.
After losing to the Blue Devils (31-3) in the sectionals last year, New Trier (20-14) was hoping to turn the tables on Warren this time around, and some late-game heroics got the job done for the Trevians.
New Trier broke up a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when Lily Novak started off the inning with an infield hit against Warren sophomore Hannah Nommensen.
A single to center field by Lee Fisher put runners on first and third, before senior Laura Bagan's one-out single to right field drove in Novak with the first run of the contest.
New Trier pitcher Dana Dolinko was rolling right along with a perfect game through four innings, before she allowed a leadoff single to Warren junior Sabrina Trevino in the bottom of the fifth.
Senior Rachele Belletini followed with a single to right to put runners on first and second. Then with one out, junior teammate Julienne Egofske came through with a huge 2-run double to left field on an 0-2 pitch and the Blue Devils had a 2-1 lead after five innings.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh, when Dolinko led off with a single to center.
A sacrifice bunt moved Dolinko to second, before No. 8 hitter Ellie Head (2-for-3) deadlocked the score at 2-2 with an RBI single to right field.
Then came the backbreaking moments in the top of the eighth as the relentless Trevians got a walk from Novak and single by Fisher to start the inning.
A fielder's choice groundout moved the runners up a base, before Bagan laid down a bunt with one out.
Novak came streaking down the third-base line on a play at the plate that was going to be close either way. But when Nommensen misplayed the ball, Novak scored what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Blue Devils did get a two-out double from sophomore Emily Hudgins to keep their hopes alive in the bottom of the eighth. But Dolinko struck out the final batter to secure the victory.
She allowed only 4 hits, three coming during Warren's fifth-inning rally.
"A lot of games it's taken us a while to get the bats going, but we never caught on like we usually do," Warren coach Jenna Anderson said. "We're going to miss the seniors, that's for sure. They have nothing to hang their heads about."
New Trier's winning tradition showed throughout in the game, as the Trevians were coming off their eighth straight regional crown and 17 regional titles in the past 18 years. Warren was outhit 8-4 in the game.
"It's been an outstanding group, and they've really just started to play excellent softball," said veteran New Trier coach John Cadwell, whose team will face either No. 9 Lake Zurich or No. 10 Stevenson for the sectional championship at 11 a.m. Saturday. "These girls have just not quit, and it's been that way all season. They found a way to put things together, and Laura Bagan (No. 5 hitter) putting that bunt down in the seventh inning demonstrates her commitment to the team."
The Blue Devils were disappointed with the tough loss. But it was still a great season with Trevino setting the single-season (17) and career home run records at Warren with one year still left in her high school career.
"I'm proud of the season we had, but we can't hang our heads on this," said Anderson, who has a strong nucleus returning next year. "It's tough on the seniors coming off such a high from last year, but I hope they have no regrets."
Besides Belletini, University of San Diego-bound shortstop Shannon McKeon and second baseman Amber Leneau were the other seniors to play huge roles on the Blue Devils' stunning run to the state championship last spring.