Softball: Latoria sparks Montini past St. Francis
In an intense, tight contest, every pitch and every play seemed magnified during Saturday's Class 3A sectional final between Montini and St. Francis.
Fortunately for the top-seeded Broncos, junior Lauren "Lu" Latoria was in the middle of several of the biggest plays and was more than ready to handle the moments. Her two-out, 2-run single in the first inning was the biggest hit of the day in a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Spartans. But the shortstop's defense was equally important in making sure her team advanced to Monday's supersectional against Lemont.
Latoria made a perfect relay throw to the plate to nail a Spartans runner in the second inning to keep Montini (27-9) on top 2-1, then recorded the always-important first out in the seventh by ranging to the hole between third and short and firing across the diamond to barely catch St. Francis' Caroline Caesar at first. Two outs later - after a pair of runners had reached - Montini pitcher Bri Clifton retired the final batter on a comebacker and the Broncos were headed back to the Elite Eight.
"It was special," Latoria said of her hit that brought home teammates Emily Alexander and Nikki Cuchran, each of whom had been hit by pitches. "I've been in a slump and it was big for me to finally hit the ball. You never know when it's in the first inning, but it came down to where it mattered a lot."
What also mattered was her glove and her arm, all the more impressive considering she has focused solely on pitching and second base until midway through this season.
"I kind of just whipped it in there," she said of her throw to catcher Ashley Lynch, which limited the double off the bat of St. Francis' Josie Smith to just 1 RBI instead of 2, which would have tied the game at the time.
Broncos coach Mike Bukovsky, who is looking to get back downstate after the program won the Class 3A title in 2016, was thrilled with the way Latoria stepped up.
"This time of year in order for you to get to these types of games and to get the chance to play for what we're playing for Monday night you've got to have people step up," he said. "She really did that today. You don't know going into a game, who's it going to be?
"Lu made two just really nice big time plays. That play in the hole (in the seventh) was huge. To get that first out in the inning, that's big, absolutely. That's a big-time play and a big time throw."
St. Francis pitcher Carlee Clark, who had closed out Thursday's sectional semifinal against Glenbard South, pitched well enough to win but ends the season 11-2 after the tough setback.
The Broncos scored twice in the first with just one hit, then scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth with the aid of a throwing error after a pickoff attempt hit the baserunner and rolled to the base of the dugout, allowing courtesy runner Neena Franklin to advance to third base with none out. She scored on a double play to break a 2-2 tie.
"We gave up weird runs," Spartans coach Ralph Remus said after a superb season finished 25-3. "It wasn't a pretty game. It was an exciting game, though. We've had a great season. No regrets. Just wish we were going on."
Cuchran, who helped the school win the 2016 state title, said Saturday's game seemed to be more intense than most. The slugger was hit in the helmet in the first and came around to score, and she walked her two other trips to the plate.
"It was awesome. Just the energy the whole game it was amazing," the DePaul recruit said. "Everyone had each other's backs, that was the best part. I just feel like there was a special energy that just felt different this game. This late in the playoffs every little thing matters, you know every pitch, every play, so … it just feels like a lot more special."