Softball: Momentum propels Lake Park past Neuqua Valley
It's been a good start to the week for Lake Park.
On Monday the team clinched its first DuPage Valley Conference softball title with a 14-8 win at Glenbard North. The Lancers kept the momentum going, edging host Neuqua Valley on Tuesday 2-1.
"I don't think it hit us until after the game. Then we were pretty excited," said Lake Park third baseman Julia Caesar, whose RBI double in the fourth inning resulted in the Lancers' first run.
Tuesday's victory moved Lake Park to 25-6 and 13-1 in the DVC.
"I think the key for us has been working together and picking each other up when we're down," said winning pitcher Emily Frank, who worked 5⅓ innings before Natalie Grubczak finished up for the save.
Neuqua (8-11, 6-7) scored its lone run in the second. Jessie Boudreau led off with an infield hit and was moved around the bases and scored on three consecutive walks.
Caesar's double in the fourth came after Dina Falk started the inning off with an infield hit and scored Falk.The Lancers took a 2-1 lead the following inning. With two outs, Alyssa Sturino doubled to right. The next batter Jess Gaseor doubled to center and scored Sturino.
"I can't be more pleased with the effort the girls are showing. They always have a no-die attitude. We have had a lot of 1-run games this season and they have played mentally strong," said Lake Park coach James Chellson.
He said all aspects of the Lancers' game have contributed to the success this season.
"Definitely our pitching keeps us in ballgames. But putting the ball in play and moving the runners over and using the fundamental hitting techniques that we practice has also been important," Chellson said.
The two teams meet again Wednesday at Lake Park's East Campus in Roselle. Game time is 4:30 p.m. Postseason play for the Lancers starts May 25 with a regional semifinal at St. Charles North.
Lake Park is seeded seventh in the Class 4A Schaumburg sectional. Its regional semifinal opponent, South Elgin, is seeded ninth.
As for Neuqua, coach Christina Frontera complemented the efforts of starting pitcher Julia Rainer. She is also pleased with the Wildcats' defense and the team's hitting capability. But she said the team's timing with hitting needs work in this the last week of the regular season.
"We knew Lake Park would be strong offensively and defensively. It would come down to who would get the hits and we left too many runners on base. We are not getting the hits when we need them," she said.
The postseason begins Monday for the Wildcats when they host Yorkville in a Class 4A Downers Grove South regional quarterfinal. The Wildcats are seeded 16th in the Plainfield East sectional. Yorkville is 17th.