Softball: Morton makes most of her opportunity to boost Grens
Elk Grove senior Sabra Morton didn't really expect to be pitching Saturday in the championship game of the Grens regional.
But there she was, taking the mound as a reliever in the second inning, with her team already trailing Bartlett 3-1.
"You never know what to expect though," Morton said. "You've just got to stay sharp and be ready."
Morton was able to keep the Grenadiers within striking distance the rest of the way in a gutty performance, and she excelled at the plate as well.
The senior's extra-base hit in the seventh inning started a 4-run rally as Elk Grove overcame No. 6 Bartlett to win the regional title by the score of 6-5.
No. 4 Elk Grove (26-9) will face the winner of Monday's Lake Park championship game (11 a.m.) between No. 1 St. Charles East and No. 8 Lake Park (17-16) at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the St. Charles East sectional semifinal.
"Sabra was our savior today, there's no other way to say it," said Grens coach Ken Grams whose clubs have won three straight regionals and 20 in school history (21 overall for the program). "She kept us in the game."
The Hawks held a 5-2 lead going in to the bottom of seventh but were not able to record a single out as all seven Elk Grove batters reached base.
Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said he wasn't surprised that the Grens were able to rally.
"I kept telling Ken (Grams) throughout the game that they were hitting the ball so hard, sooner or later it was going to pay off," Wolfsmith said. "Our defense in the field was just spectacular today and for a while we were able to keep them at bay."
Bartlett had RBI from Amber Pagan (a double to the center-field fence and a home run to center) and Elyse Hickey (a double to right plating 2 runs) that staked the Hawks to a 4-2 lead entering the seventh.
The Hawks scored once more in the top of the inning but Morton was able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the deficit at 3.
"The fact that she (Morton) was able to hold them to just one run was so impressive," Grams said. "That meant that we were only chasing three. I actually thought that in the bottom of the seventh we were going to have to get a few extra base hits. We only got one, but we didn't make an out."
Morton's long double started the rally, then with the bases loaded Jessica Kearns (3-for-3) smacked a double down the right field line to bring Elk Grove within 5-4.
Following a walk to Jaimie Klicka, consecutive singles by Keeley Cronin and Christina DiMaria gave the win to the Grens.
"I was just thinking that I had to get the ball past the infield," said DiMaria of her walk-off hit.
Hickey finished with 3 hits for Bartlett, while Kearns led the way on offense for the Grenadiers with 3 hits, a double and two singles.
DiMaria and Cronin had two hits apiece for Elk Grove.
"I just had to stay focused," said Morton of her superior pitching performance. "I had everyone encouraging me, Kylie (Thomsen) from first base, and my parents from the stands, and that really helped me stay positive."
"We kept our energy and spirit up the whole game," said Thomsen, a senior. "We just kept pushing, and I have to give all the credit in the world to all the support we received from our parents, the fans and all the guys down the left field line who came out to cheer us on. We have nine seniors and this was our last game on this field, and we didn't want it to be a loss."
Morton earned the win to go along with her clutch double in the seventh, while both teams played errorless softball.
"We've rallied before in situations like this," Grams said. "So I knew that they had it in them. The key was Sabra getting out of that jam in the seventh inning and giving up only the 1 run."