Softball: Atlas slugs Barrington to MSL West title

Due to a knee injury, Barrington senior Leyden Atlas missed the entire first half of the season.

But she sure didn't miss on her chance in the Fillies' biggest moment of the season on Thursday.

With her team tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning at Palatine and the Mid-Suburban League West championship hanging in the balance, Atlas drilled a two-out grand slam over the left field fence to give the Fillies the final runs of a dramatic 7-3 comeback triumph over the Pirates, who had led 3-2 since the third inning.

The defending MSL champions will have a chance to repeat when they host this year's showcase event next Thursday.

Hersey (10-4), Prospect (10-4) and Elk Grove (7-5) are contending for the East crown.

"This is very special," Atlas said. "I was thinking I just needed to get a hit. I needed to be there for my team.

"With the bases loaded, you just need to relax. It was all for my teammates. These moments mean everything to me."

Setting up the moment was a leadoff walk to Katherine Stagnito followed by Jessica Bellis' bunt single. After a strikeout, Kendall Peterson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Abbey Jacobsen came through with a sacrifice fly to left to get Stagnito home for the 3-3 tie.

"I was thinking a single up the middle or hit it far enough so the runner could score from third," said Jacobsen, who went 2-for-4 with a double. "So I was really happy I was able to lift the ball to the outfield so we could get a run.

"I had a rough start early in the game on defense but my team picked me up in that inning and they did not score. I cannot be more proud of this team. It's pretty cool to see us battle like this."

The Fillies (25-2, 15-0) clinched the West by taking a 2-game lead over Palatine (21-5, 13-2) with one to play.

It marks the Fillies' 18th MSL divisional title, and the 14th under coach Perry Peterson.

"We had a lot of ups and downs in this game," Jacobsen said. "But in the dugout we were talking, we were cheering, we were trying our hardest and we knew we could do it.

"We are a team that comes back. We can do it. We battle, we have perseverance and we can get it done."

The Fillies have also gotten it done in MSL championship games, winning a record 13.

"I'm super proud for our team," Perry Peterson said. "Our kids have battled all season long. This is a tight-knit group which has been together for many years. It's rewarding to me to see them be the MSL West champions because it's never easy to be a champion. They stepped it up and made it happen. It's exciting."

As exciting as Atlas' first career grand slam.

"Leyden is still battling to develop her true form and show what she is all about," Perry Peterson said. "She is a Division I recruit (Rutgers) who is just a monster offensively and still battling her health to be the true player she really is.

"What happened today was just spectacular. I'm really happy for her because she has battled so hard to come back. She is a pressure kid, a confident young lady. We're lucky to have her on our team. You want kids like Leyden Atlas when the pressure is on and that was great."

Perry Peterson went with Catherine McMahon for the first 2⅓ innings while junior Tori Meyer (10-1) worked the final 4⅔ collecting 5 strikeouts. She did not allow a run and scattered 3 hits.

Meyer (1-for-3) also followed Jacobsen's double in the first inning with a 2-run homer over the left field fence to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Jenna Patino also doubled for Barrington.

The Pirates erased the 2-0 deficit with 3 runs in the bottom of the third inning on five consecutive singles, the first to left field and the next four up the middle. The one-out singles parade was produced by Grace Huff (2-for-2, double, two intentional walks), Brittany Padden, Amanda Stanczuk (RBI), Rhiann Dick (3-for-4, RBI) and Grace Seiffert (RBI).

Pirates pitcher Sarah Grossman (14-2) recorded 5 strikeouts.

"We have to learn how to shut the game down in the seventh inning," said Pirates coach Nicole Capalbo. "Especially when a leadoff runner gets on, we have to get that first out. I thought Sarah pitched a real good game. She just missed a spot and unfortunately we left a lot of runners on base."