Softball: Barrington rises up, makes Huntley sectional final
It's hard to keep an outstanding softball team like Barrington down for very long.
Belvidere North quickly found that out first-hand on Wednesday in the Class 4A Huntley sectional semifinals.
In the top of the third, Fillies pitcher Catherine McMahon surrendered a 2-run homer as the Blue Thunder grabbed a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, however, Barrington (34-3) stormed right back with 8 runs.
The Fillies held serve from there to win 10-3 and advance to Saturday's 11 a.m. sectional championship game against Huntley.
"This team has a lot of character," Barrington coach Perry Peterson said. "They understand these situations and know how to handle the pressure. They came right back the way we knew they would. I am proud of the way they responded."
Jenna Patino started the scoring in Barrington's third-inning rally with an inside the park homer. Her sinking liner got past the Belvidere North left fielder and rolled to the fence as Patino raced all the way around the bases.
"That was crazy," Patino said. "I never would have believed that would happen. Once it got past her I was thinking at least a triple, but coach kept waving his arms for me to go home. It really switched the momentum. Honestly we knew we could do it if we put our minds to it. We just stayed positive after we fell behind and picked each up."
Tori Meyer later added a 2-run single in the inning and Abbey Jacobsen drove in another run with a single. The other 3 runs came in on a ground out by Rachel Krzysko, a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Carly Kordich, and a passed ball.
"That was a big hit by Jenna," Peterson said. "She is such a hard-working, diligent kid. I am so thankful when a great kid like her gets to have a special moment like that. She got it going for us and we just kept going from there."
After giving up the home run in the top of the third inning, McMahon bounced back to retire the next nine batters and 13 of the last 14 to close out the game for a complete-game victory.
"You have to have a short term memory sometimes," McMahon said. "Credit to their hitter for a nice hit, but I just have to put those things behind me and move on to the next batters. My teammates did a great job of getting the momentum right back for us. So they deserve a lot of credit."
McMahon allowed just 4 hits in the game and did not walk a batter.
"She is such a gritty competitor," Peterson said. "She is very disciplined out there so I knew she wasn't going to let (the homer) get to her. She has the talent and ability to command a game."