Softball: Regional puzzle solved by Fremd
It had been five years since hall of fame coach Jim Weaver directed Fremd's softball team to six straight regional crowns in a run from 2008 to 2013.
So when the Vikings had their preseason meeting back in September, second-year coach Josh Teschner said there was one thing on the minds of his nine seniors.
"Winning a regional was definitely a goal they put in front of themselves all the way back in September," said Teschner who also spent some years with Weaver as an assistant coach. "When we met that day, the girls felt not having a regional title was a monkey on their back and there was no question they were going to leave Fremd High School with at least a regional plaque."
Nine months later, those Vikings seniors left the Rolling Meadows Class 4A regional with that elusive hardware thanks to a 10-0 triumph in five innings over the host and No. 11-seeded Mustangs (12-16).
"This is what we've been working toward for four years, " said Vikings senior shortstop and Wisconsin-Oshkosh recruit Grace Stevens. "This was our goal. We finally did it.
"With nine seniors, we all motivated each other. We took leadership and we led this team. We all had our eyes set on this and we are not ready to give up yet."
The No. 3-seeded Vikings advance to their own sectional and will face the champion of the Glenbard East regional (Prospect vs. Bartlett, 2 p.m. on Saturday) on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Fremd's 20-10 record marks the 24th time in the last 25 seasons the Vikes have won at least 20 games.
"One of the things we talked about is that over the course of a season, and Jim Weaver used to preached this, it's a puzzle," said Teschner, also an English teacher like Weaver at Fremd. "And as much as you want the puzzle to come together on day one, sometimes it's not until day 20, or day 24 or day 40. But what matters is that all the girls are figuring it out now."
Stevens, who had 4 home runs heading into the week, hit 2 in the regional.
Her 3-run blast to left in bottom of the fourth inning gave the Vikings a commanding 8-0 lead. She ended up 1-for-1 with a walk and hit by pitch after going 3-for-4 with a homer and a double the day before against Hoffman Estates.
"There is no question Grace is been a big part of this puzzle and has been all season," Teschner said.
"I'm just doing it for my team," Stevens said. "Everyone is behind each other. We are always supporting each other and that is how we get it done."
Georgia Southern recruit Jess Mazur (2-for-3, 2 RBI) got it done in the first inning for Fremd.
After leadoff batter Hannah Ban walked, Mazur walloped a 2-run shot over the center field fence for her school-record 33rd career home run and record 15th of the season.
That would be all senior pitcher Nikki Kehoe (11-4) needed. The right-hander hurled a 1-hitter with 10 strikeouts.
"Nikki is the picture of determination and consistency," Teschner said. "And that is one of the big reasons she has thrown so many of our innings the last three or four weeks.
"We know we can put her on the mound and she is going to keep us in every game. We trust her to do so and she has continued to perform."
"Kehoe pitched really well," said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski, whose club upset No. 6 South Elgin 18-8 in 5 innings in Wednesday's semifinal. "Our kids played hard. Fremd was a better team. They played a better game than we did. They got off to a good start and we just didn't."
Kehoe took a no-hitter into the fifth inning when Kendra Herring led off with an infield single between short and third.
"We had a great win on Wednesday," Wolanski added. "It was great to get the victory for our two seniors (Mallory King and Parker Cavanaugh) - especially Mallory, who has been a really been a big part of the program for four seasons.
"Hopefully, our kids learned know what they have to do to compete in the conference and for a regional championship. Hopefully, we learn from this and build on it for next season."
Fremd senior Lexi D'Ambrosio, who caught Kehoe's gem, also went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI while teammates Ban, Anna Freveletti, Sophia Crescio and Marissa Chalmers also had hits.
"What I think you've seen is nine phenomenal seniors picking it up at right time - offensively, defensively and believing in themselves," Teschner added. "They're cheering in the dugout and doing everything you can ask of them. Now we've got two more games we want just as much in our sectional before we have a chance to get downstate."