Softball: St. Francis finishes season the right way
The St. Francis softball team did what squads should do with the final game of the regular season and the postseason just days away. The Spartans looked solid in beating visiting Fenwick 7-1.
"It's a step in the right direction winning the last game of the regular season," said Caroline Caesar, who hit a 2-run double in the third to help the Spartans (21-2).
St. Francis is seeded third in the Class 3A Glenbard South sectional and opens the postseason in its own regional. The Spartans resume play Tuesday in a regional semifinal against Monday's quarterfinal victor between 14th-seeded Chicago Noble Bulls and 19th-seeded Chicago Noble Street Charter.
Spartans coach Ralph Remus is stressing to his team to stay focused on each game in front of them.
"We're playing like I want us to play. The bats have been strong against good pitching and the defense has been solid all year," he said.
In addition to St. Francis' overall record, the team recently clinched the GCAC White Division title with a 10-0 mark.
Although Fenwick, a member of GCAC Red Division, dropped to 12-17 with the defeat, the Friars' efforts and schedule were thought highly enough to receive a fourth seed in the Glenbard South sectional.
The Friars took a 1-0 lead in their half of the first on two hits. The team managed just three hits the rest of the way.
St. Francis responded in their half of the inning with two runs, both scored with two outs. Shelby Winkelman doubled to left and then Carlee Clark then sent the first pitch thrown to her over the fence to clear the bases.
The Spartans made it 4-1 in the third and again struck big with two outs. Winkelman singled and Clark, the winning pitcher, walked. Tarin Malloy ran for her. Then came Caesar's double down the right-field line on a 1-2 pitch.
Two more runs came St. Francis' way in the fourth. Josie Smith singled to center and Becca Imbrogno's base hit scored Smith. Imbrogno scored on Kristina Sherwin's single.
Imbrogno got her second hit of the game in the seventh when she doubled to left. Clark got her second hit of the contest when her single scored Imbrogno. Winkelman finished with 3 hits.
Clark pitched four innings in getting the victory. She allowed four hits and struck out five. Winkelman finished the game, allowing just one hit and striking out six.
"We have to keep the intensity up every game and make sure we are mentally there," Clark said of the approaching postseason.
The winner of Tuesday's semifinal will face the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between seventh-seeded Wheaton Academy and 11th-seeded Chicago Noble Golder in the May 26 regional final.