Barrington's Dolezal dazzles against Stevenson
The winningest pitcher in Barrington softball history can do a little more than just throw the ball.
She fields and hits, too.
Keenan Dolezal was a part of 16 of the 21 outs by Stevenson as she threw a 3-hitter to end the Patriots' Cinderella run with a 5-1 victory in the Barrington Class 4A supersectional.
The Fillies (32-6) advanced to the state finals for the ninth time in program history and will face Lincoln-Way East in Friday's Class 4A state semifinal at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria.
Dolezal (90-19 career record) had 8 strikeouts and 8 assists and also went 2-for-3 in the No. 9 spot to help the Fillies ace their first trip to the final four since back-to-back state runner-ups in 2007 and 2008.
"I'm so happy," said Dolezal, a Loyola recruit. "I can't believe it. I don't know what to say.
"My defense helped me a lot. When the ball came toward me, I just needed to make some quick moves. I had to jump off the mound fast. And Julie (Magro, senior first baseman) made some nice stretches and catches at first base."
Dolezal got all the runs she needed in the top of the first inning.
Four consecutive singles by Rachel Macdonald, Rachel Krzysko, Jenna Fingerman (2 RBI) and Jamie Brown (RBI) made it 3-0 before Stevenson junior pitcher Myra Peterson (12-7) ended the rally with a popout to third baseman Alyssa Pauly.
"Before the game we talked about getting the lead because the last time we played Stevenson (10-5 win in fourth game of the season) they came out really fast on us," said Barrington second baseman Kelly Katis. "Our former coach Brian Freese (whose father Mike coaches first base) used to tell us the first team to score wins, so we went off that."
And the Fillies went on to limit the Patriots (18-16) to 1 unearned run on 3 hits the rest of the way.
"They have a very good pitcher," said Stevenson coach Alex Vikartofsky. "This kind of environment was a little new for us. And we are a young team. Barrington is used to this.
"We got caught off guard a little in the first inning. We managed to push in a run finally (in the sixth inning) but they pretty much limited our offense which had been our bread and butter."
The Patriots were a No. 19 seed in their Glenbrook South sectional, pulling off upsets over top-seeded Warren and New Trier. They had not been the home team in a state playoff game until Monday when they won the coin flip.
But Barrington took advantage of its first at-bats by scoring the 3 runs.
They added a fourth in the bottom of the fourth, once again with two outs when Katis (2-for-4) had a bloop single fall in left field to drive home pinch runner Catherine McMahon (running for Dolezal who had singled to center).
Fingerman belted her eighth homer of the season - a one-out blast over the left field fence - to give the Fillies the 5-0 lead in the fifth inning.
"I can't believe it," Katis said. "It's a dream, something you dream about when you are real little. The atmosphere was so incredible.
"I remember coming here (Fields of Dreams) as a little girl and watching MJ Maropis (standout shortstop) in a supersectional, and now she's here watching. I'd watch her play and say I wanted to be just like her (played on the back-to-back state runner-up teams) and be able to put a banner up on our outfield fence."
Many other alumni joined Maropis to see the Fillies earn a ninth banner to signify a trip downstate.
"Our program has amazing tradition," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson. "Our alumni were out in full force for this game. I am so amazed by what they do for our program. On Sunday, they brought treats for all our players after practice."
Assistant Barrington coach Jon Sander got to celebrate with treats not only for a state downstate but his birthday as well on Monday.
Stevenson was able to celebrate a great run through the state tourney.
The Pats fought to the end, loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to hits by catcher Kayleigh McGovern and Molly Thon and a walk to Emma Oriatti. That happened after Taylor Koenigs had reached on an error and came home on McGovern's single to left.
In the top of the seventh, the Pats prevented a run despite a leadoff single by Macdonald and a double to right center by Krzysko.
Brown hit a shot to right fielder Trisha Porzycki, who made a nice catch and then fired a perfect strike to catcher McGovern who put the tag on the runner trying to score for the inning-ending double play.
"Trish has a great arm," Vikartofsky said. "She has made a great defensive play with her arm in every game in the state tournament.
"Our infield defense was loose and solid the whole game.
"They (Barrington) just basically outhit us and outscored us. It's pretty much a home night game for them. They're used to this setting and used to being in these games. And Perry Peterson is a fantastic coach."