Softball: Lisle off to great start in regional
The Lisle softball team made quick work of Chicago Academy on Tuesday in a Class 2A Lisle regional semifinal, 18-0 in four innings, and then turned its focus to Saturday's regional final.
The Lions (14-13), the top seed in their own sectional, will face the winner of Wednesday's semifinal battle between fourth-seeded Guerin and fifth-seeded St. Joseph. Lisle is aiming for its second consecutive regional plaque and hasn't faced either team this season.
Lions coach Trent Schalk said he believes his team is ready for what's beyond Tuesday's victory.
"We're hitting our stride at the right time. Our conference was super tough and our record was not that good. But we played in a lot of intense, close games and we are wanting that experience to turn into 1-run wins for us," he said.
After starting pitcher Anna Palicka set the ninth-seeded Cougars down in order in the first, Lisle wasted no time in grabbing control of the game in its half of the inning.
When the third out finally came, the Lions had batted around and led 9-0 on 5 hits. The big hits were Mandy Kaiser's 3-run double, Madelyn Smith's 2-run single with RBI basehits coming from Samantha Harmon and Jamie Kaiser.
Mandy Kaiser doubled again in the second and Lisle loaded the bases but could not score.
That wasn't the case in the third inning when the Lions racked up 9 runs on 6 hits and were helped by 5 Chicago Academy errors.
Palicka also contributed big at the plate that inning with a 2-run first-pitch homer and later an RBI double. Also connecting on run-scoring doubles were Jacqueline Sedlacek and Hannah Cracco. Jamie Kaiser made good on her second RBI hit of the day, a single.
Palicka and the Lisle defense allowed just two baserunners on the afternoon, a walk in the second and a single in the fourth.
Schalk stressed to Palicka about getting ahead of the hitters.
"She threw strikes. She did her job well," he said.
The Lions will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in the regional final.
"We're just trying to improve. We did really well last year and we wanted an even better result this season," Palicka said.