Softball: St. Francis makes hits count, slips past Glenbard South
St. Francis junior Carlee Clark knew she couldn't look to hit a home run. She settled for a triple instead.
That was one of just three Spartans hits in their Class 3A softball sectional semifinal, but it was enough. Clark's triple to right field drove in the Spartans' only two runs in a 2-1 victory Thursday against host Glenbard South.
"I was looking for an outside pitch because I figured that's where she would throw me, and I just knew that I couldn't think home run," Clark said. "I had to think basehit, try to drive it somewhere."
The game started Wednesday but was suspended due to bad weather with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the first inning. It picked up Thursday afternoon at that point.
St. Francis starting pitcher Shelby Winkelman (12-1) worked her way out of that jam, then did it again in the second inning when the Raiders again loaded the bases and got nothing out of it.
"You've got to take advantage of situations like that," Raiders coach Julie Fonda said. "The first inning, it's hard to come back and reset and start the game over and ask a kid who bats in the six hole to lead off the game with the bases loaded and two outs."
Sparked by their pitcher's perseverance, the third-seeded Spartans (25-2) took the lead with a two-out rally in the third inning. Kristina Sherwin and Winkelman scored on Clark's triple to the base of the right-field wall.
"They were huge obviously because if we get down 1-0 or 2-0, do we score? I don't know," St. Francis coach Ralph Remus said of leaving Raiders on the bases in the first two innings. "They weren't hitting the ball hard, but they were putting it in play in spots we couldn't make the plays."
Raiders pitcher Daniella Little had no problem the rest of the way against the Spartans, getting 12 straight outs after Clark's triple.
The Raiders (20-6), the No. 2 seed, stroked 8 hits, all singles, and stranded 11 runners in the game.
Glenbard South scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh inning, breaking through against Clark, who replaced Winkelman in the pitcher's circle to start the fifth inning.
Senior third baseman Kate Mora led off the seventh with a walk and went to second on senior first baseman Bailee Flanagan's single to center. They advanced on a fielder's choice, then Mora scored on catcher Jocelyn Leerschen's groundout.
"I knew that I had to buckle down at that point. I knew there was no going back. I really wanted to go play Montini and try to win a sectional," Clark said.
The Spartans will meet Montini in the sectional final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Glenbard South.
"I'm getting too old for this," Remus joked. "But it's always that kind of game with Glenbard South. They're a terrific team and I'm really proud of my kids for beating them today, because it's no easy task."