Barrington finishes up with fourth-place trophy
EAST PEORIA - Over the years, the cabinet shelves in the foyer of the Barrington High School athletics area have accepted many state trophies, from a diverse assortment of sports teams.
But none has been as generous as the school's softball team.
The girls with gloves donated a school-record seventh trophy from state finals competition when they took fourth place at Saturday's Class 4A softball state tournament here at the EastSide Centre sports complex.
"We didn't get the results we wanted, but to say we are fourth in the state, that's something not too many people get to say," said second baseman Kelly Katis, the only Barrington batter with multiple hits in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Oak Park-River Forest (33-4) in the Class 4A third-place game played in warm and humid conditions. "Let alone having the opportunity to come down here and play. It's amazing."
The seventh state trophy for the program is one more than the six earned by the girls volleyball program at Barrington.
The other softball trophies have come in 1993 (fourth), 2004 (third), 2005 (third), 2007 (second), 2008 (second) and 2013 (third).
With 16 of the 19 players on Saturday's roster being underclassmen, the Fillies (32-8) are already looking forward to trying to get back to the state finals for the ninth time under 23-year veteran Barrington coach Perry Peterson.
"Now that the season is over, I can't wait for next spring," said Katis, who will put on her basketball gear next week to play in summer hoop leagues at Trinity and Stevenson high schools. "Hopefully we can pick up right where we left off."
The Fillies almost left with a game-winning rally in the top of the seventh in the third-place game.
Trailing 3-0 after seven innings, junior Jenna Fingerman started the seventh with a double down the left field line. Junior Jamie Brown walked and freshman Julia Kozar was hit by a pitch to loaded the bases with no outs.
Oak Park pitcher Emily Richardson (15-1), a Valparaiso recruit, got a fielder's choice (6-2) on the next batter for the first out. Pinch runner Abbey Jacobsen came home on a wild pitch.
Barrington ace and Loyola recruit (31-8) Keenan Dolezal, who finished her splendid career as the school's all-time winningest pitcher (90-21), then produced a RBI groundout to make it 3-2 before Richardson got the final out on a grounder to second.
"I thought Emily did a great job of pitching and she got us out of it at the end," said Oak Park veteran coach Mel Kolbusz (638-209) who won a state title in 2005. "I was happiest with how clean our defense was (no errors). Barrington is tough. Perry (714-172) is a good coach."
The Fillies started battling late.
They got their first hit in two days when Katis singled to left with one out in the fourth inning.
They got 2 hits in the sixth, one on a leadoff single to right by Haley Luczak. The sophomore was ill on Friday and did not play. She was replaced by senior Kat Panos, who saw her first action of the season after being sidelined with her second knee surgery.
"I was so happy for Kat," Peterson said. "She tore the ACL last August and she battled and battled to get back. I asked Kat if she was ready, and she said she was. I'm so happy. A lot of kids never come back from one ACL injury, let alone two."
After Luczak's hit, pinch runner Nicole Chapman walked. A single by Katis loaded the bases with one out but Richardson escaped with a popout to second and a strikeout.
Fingerman's double to lead off the seventh was the Fillies' fourth hit in the final four innings of the game.
"It was a long time down here before we came out and played Barrington softball," Fingerman said. "But we have a lot of people returning and we should have a strong chance of making another long run in the state tournament next year. We just have to focus on hitting the ball the way we did for most of the season."
Only first baseman Julie Magro, Panos and Dolezal graduate.
"Julie was an amazing leader and she bailed us out so many times at first base," Peterson said. "What can you say about Keenan? Without her, we are probably not in East Peoria in June. She did an amazing job. It's emotional to talk about her."
Peterson praised his players for their comeback.
"You've got to give them a lot of credit," he said. "They rose to the occasion in the sixth and seventh innings. We struggled offensively in East Peoria. That has to be addressed. We've got to work hard on that in the off-season. With 16 out of 19 players coming back, that excites me. That's a great start. Barrington softball never stops. It just keeps going."
And maybe the trophy case will expand a little more in the future thanks to the softball team.