Softball: Downers Grove South eliminates Sandburg
Softball isn't track, but Downers Grove South cleared the supersectional hurdle Monday with a 5-3 victory over Sandburg at Benedictine University in Class 4A.
There are Mustangs who have been on the varsity since their freshman year in 2012. Twice Downers South has been stopped one game shy of state in the supersectional. But not Monday afternoon.
"I'm real happy. It's the third supersectional and we finally win. It's so awesome and it rewards all the hard work we did in the off-season. It paid off," said winning pitcher Caroline Hedgcock, in her fourth varsity season.
The Mustangs (35-3) move on to a Friday state semifinal game at EastSide Centre in East Peoria against Normal Community West at 3 p.m. Normal beat Lincoln-Way East 1-0 Monday.
It's the first trip to state for Downers South since 2007.
"The biggest difference today were the senior veterans. They've been through this," said Mustangs coach Ron Havelka, whose team is guaranteed a state trophy in his final season. "They worked hard and Sandburg is a really good team."
Downers South struck first in the opening inning.
Leadoff hitter Kristen Bialek reached on a fielding error and moved to second on Kristin Lea's sacrifice. Hedgcock singled to center, scoring Bialek. Megan LoBianco then walked and scored on Lindsey Hermann's single to left.
The Mustangs kept a 2-0 lead until the Eagles, a 27-win team that won the Marist sectional, scored in the fourth.
That was a momentum changer. Downers South managed just one hit over the second, third and fourth innings.
But the Mustangs found their stride again in the fifth with three more runs to get some badly needed cushion for their lead.
With two outs Lea was hit by a pitch. Hedgcock's single, her second hit of three in the game, moved Lea to second. LoBianco's double scored her. A Sandburg fielding error drove in Hedgcock and LoBianco.
"That's happened to us before (the Downers South showing in the fifth). When a team scores on us, it puts a fire in us. The hitters were great," Lea said.
The Eagles did not go away until the very end.
Leadoff hitter Ashley Wood singled and Brianna Soltis followed with a double.
Irene Travis connected on a double of her own to bring them both home. Travis' double came with two out. LoBianco grabbed a line drive at short for the first out and Lea grabbed a groundball for an unassisted out.
After Travis' hit Lea made another unassisted play at third for the final out and the celebration began.
"Anything can happen at the end of the game. I was seeing these hitters for the fourth time and my change-up had quit working. I was relying on the defense in the final inning. Kristin and Megan really came through," Hedgcock said.
Sandburg put its leadoff hitter on base three of the last four innings.
Hedgcock struck out five.