Softball: Downers Grove North blanks Geneva

Mutual trust went a long way for Savannah Rodriguez and her Downers Grove North teammates.

First the Trojans got the sophomore right-hander a lead, then they backed her up in getting out of a jam, and finally they celebrated her home run that broke 4A regional host Geneva's collective hearts.

Batting as the home team thanks to being the No. 4 seed among 19 schools in the Plainfield East softball sectional, North posted a 4-0 victory over No. 5 Geneva giving the Trojan seniors their third regional plaque in four years.

North (24-5) now advances to Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. sectional semifinal against an all-too familiar foe: cross-town rival Downers Grove South, which won an earlier meeting this year 2-1 in eight innings and delivered sectional losses in 2013 and 2014. South won its own regional beating Wheaton Warrenville South 7-0.

Unfortunately for Geneva (24-11), the quest for an encore to a 2013 regional title has to continue.

"Not the outcome we wanted but I couldn't be prouder of the way we played," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "Early in the year we were way too tentative, today we played without fear."

Geneva's Katie Keller drew a leadoff walk to start the game, but she ultimately became one of six Vikings left stranded as Rodriguez scattered 3 hits while improving her record to 13-5.

In the bottom of the second, Zoe Varsbergs, a Northern Illinois committed junior, was hit by a pitch while Kaylee Newstrom, an Eckerd (FL) signee, drew a walk before CeCe Miglio's single to left center loaded the bases. Geneva's Rachel Fanella, a Carthage signee, induced consecutive grounders that the Vikings used for force outs at home plate. However Katie Polaski connected for a pop hit over first base.

"With the bases loaded my focus was just to get the ball in play," said Polaski, a junior committed to Loyola. "Lately I've had trouble getting hits despite getting the bat on the ball, so it might not have been far beyond the infield, but it did the job and I'll take it."

"We knew the type of pitcher we were facing and that she was capable of keeping us off balance," North coach Eric Landschoot said. "Hats off to their defense and game plan other than when we strung some things together."

Geneva was hoping to do the same in the fourth. Annika Radabaugh singled to center right and Rodriguez suffered a lapse in control hitting both Molly Wrenn and Fanella to load the bases.

"As a sophomore, Savannah has begun to play better but more importantly, she's mentally better," Landschoot noted. "She did exactly what a good pitcher has to do to get out of a jam: she got a strikeout (her third of five), forced a grounder so we could throw home, and then got a pop out to end the inning."

"I knew I could trust my defense to make plays, so I just had to focus on my pitches," Rodriguez said.

After starting the fifth with another strikeout, Geneva's Keller singled to center but then got doubled off when Trojan shortstop Jaclyn Pasakarnis, a Maryville (IN) signee, caught a line drive and threw to first.

Then in the bottom half with one out, Rodriguez crushed a first pitch over the fence in left-center for a 3-0 lead that dropped the Vikings' heads. North boosted the lead to 4-0 when junior varsity pull-up Madi Greenaberg made her first varsity at-bat memorable with a blast over the 200-foot sign in center.

"One of the hardest things to do for anyone on the bench is to stay in the game mentally, really focus on the pitches and situation," Landschoot stated. "So props to her for sending a first pitch to dead center; that's being ready for your opportunity.

"Turning a 2-0 lead to 3-0 and then 4-0 made a huge difference," Landschoot added. "Up 2-0, your pitcher is still concerned with her initial throw and the count and the defense doesn't want to make an error. You add to or double the lead, and everyone relaxes a little to not be playing afraid."

Fanella got another foul pop before taking over at second for Ali Dierks, who did relief work the rest of the way.

"Despite the loss, this has been my favorite season by far," said Fanella, who dipped to 9-4 with the loss. "Our defense and offense were generally strong enough to always make it fun. We bonded well as a team and our work ethic was a highlight all season along with winning the (Rolling Meadows) tourney."

Fellow senior Sarah Bauer echoed those sentiments.

"Although we weren't able to string together hits or positive plays like we typically did, we always stayed positive and supported each other," Bauer said. "The way we came together and connected as a squad, we'd been down before but always believed we could win. Unfortunately it didn't happen today."