Softball: York survives St. Charles North's comeback, wins supersectional
The more runs, the merrier.
But for York freshman pitcher Lauren Derkowski, she's used to pitching with a 1-run lead.
Take Monday evening for instance when the Dukes tangled with St. Charles North for the Class 4A Rosemont supersectional title at Bandit Stadium in Rosemont. On the line was a trip to the state semifinals where the winner plays Rock Island at 3 p.m. on Friday at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
"Obviously you feel more comfortable when you have more runs," said Derkowski, who wound up firing a 3-hitter with 9 punch-outs as York held off a fierce rally North Star rally in the bottom of the seventh to prevail 5-3 to earn its first supersectional crown since 2013.
"We haven't gotten to state that much, so this was really important for us. A lot of us have been playing together since we were little, so I think our experience helped. We don't get rattled very easily and just play with a lot of confidence."
Derkowski had earned a 1-0 victory in the sectional semifinals over Whitney Young, and followed that with a 13-strikeout performance over Oak Park-River Forest for the sectional crown over the weekend.
"She showed great command and hit every almost every spot I asked," said Dukes coach Elizabeth Munn, whose girls improved to 28-12-2 overall.
"They (St. Charles) got to her a little in the seventh, but she showed great composure. She's a natural team leader and when she takes command, it just drives her more."
Ahead 5-0, Derkowski (16-6) took a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh when things got interesting.
The North Stars (20-10) loaded the bases, which included their first base hit off Derkowski by first baseman Alyssa Eby. Then, with one out, senior catcher Grace Quinn singled to right, scoring freshman second baseman Anastasia Pappas (reached on error).
The next batter, sophomore Sydney Eby, reached on an infield single to plate Alyssa Eby and senior starting pitcher Jillian Waslawski (walk) and all of a sudden the deficit was only 5-3.
"I just tried not to think about it and told myself I got this," said Derkowski, who got a groundout to senior shortstop Jane Moran for the final out.
"We didn't give them our best but take nothing away from York. Their pitcher was very impressive," said St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin. "We had a couple of mistakes but tip your cap to York. I hope they win it all."
Moran had given the Dukes a little much-needed insurance in the top half of the frame when she smacked a 2-run homer to the gap in right-center to plate junior leadoff hitter and shortstop Katherine Karnatz (single).
York scored the opening run of the game in the top of the first when senior catcher Madison Collins roped a single to center to score Karnatz, who led off the game by reaching on an infield single. Karnatz finished 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
With Derkowski cruising along, the Dukes plated a pair of runs in the top of the fourth when Tran tripled to the left-center gap to score senior right fielder Andrea Meagher (single).
Derkowski then helped herself with a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Tran for a 3-0 lead.
North Star senior hurler Jillian Waslawski (14-8) pitched well in a losing effort, scattering 12 hits with no walks and 1 strikeout. Since her freshman year, Waslawski has won 14 postseason games.
"She's been our starting pitcher all season and I couldn't be more proud of her and these girls," added Poulin.