Raiders looking forward to staying home

Glenbard South hasn't even played a Class 3A playoff game, but the Raiders already feel right at home there.

Literally.

Thought to be a favorite in 3A since the preseason in the new four-class format, Glenbard South hosts a regional, sectional and supersectional.

The Raiders, beaten by Downers Grove South in a Class AA supersectional last year, can make it to state for the first time since 2003 without leaving Glen Ellyn.

"When I told my girls that," Raiders coach Julie Fonda said, "I thought they were going to throw a party."

Glenbard South has more than home cooking going for it. The Raiders, unbeaten in the Western Sun Conference, are healthy again after a string of injuries at midseason. Ace pitcher Jill Trzaska, for one, is back from a bout with migraines and has put up a 15-1 record with a dazzling 0.12 ERA and 192 strikeouts.

Speedy outfielder Nikki Simpson is hitting .366, and had 25 of Glenbard South's gaudy total of 91 stolen bases through 27 games.

"We're coming together at a good time," Fonda said.

Riverside-Brookfield figures to be the Raiders' toughest competition in the sectional, with Illiana Christian potentially awaiting in the supersectional. No. 1 Burlington Central is on the other side of the 3A bracket.

"The girls know we have an opportunity to do great things," Fonda said, "and hopefully we will."

At the opposite end of the 3A bracket, Fenton is seeded No. 2 in the Trinity sectional and hosts its own regional seeking the school's first regional championship. The Bison are on the verge of setting a school record for wins (22) and just clinched its first Metro Suburban Conference title in 31 years.

If Glenbard South should feel bullish about its chances in 3A, the sectionals in 4A are simply a bear.

Bolingbrook sectional top seed Plainfield Central, led by Michigan-bound shortstop Stephanie Kirkpatrick and pitcher Brittany Adcox, a Benedictine recruit, has lost just twice.

No. 2 seed Lockport just knocked off Sandburg behind pitcher Allison Shimkus before losing to Plainfield Central 1-0. And No. 3 seed Downers Grove South is gunning for its third straight trip to the state tournament.

Then there are Naperville Central and West Aurora with their ace pitchers Natalie Wunderlich and Stephanie Becker, respectively.

"There are some outstanding pitchers," Downers Grove South coach Ron Havelka said. "We're familiar with all the teams, either playing them or seeing them play."

Wunderlich is 16-5 with 192 strikeouts.

"From our perspective we feel like our pitcher is pretty hot," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. "We feel if we can score 2 runs in seven innings we'll be pretty tough to beat."

Havelka's Mustangs may boast the best lineup of the bunch, led by junior center fielder Brooke Andresen. Andresen, a varsity member on Downers Grove South's state teams the last two years, is hitting .529 with 9 homers and 42 runs batted in through 26 games.

"She's had the kind of year players dream of having," Havelka said. "She has blossomed into not only an outstanding hitter, but an outstanding player."

Potential regional final opponents won't be any strangers.

Naperville Central and West Aurora split two games in the DuPage Valley Conference this season, Downers Grove South beat Neuqua Valley in a regional final last year and defeated the Wildcats 5-3 on Thursday, and Wheaton Warrenville South plays at Lockport today.

Naperville Central, for instance, had every one of the top 12 seeds on its schedule with three games rained out.

"I don't think it would be beyond reason for any of the top seven or eight seeds to get to the sectional final," Nussbaum said. "When you have a good pitcher that can keep it close, anything can happen."

Familiarity carries over to the Class 4A Schaumburg sectional, where Upstate Eight Conference rivals Bartlett and Lake Park are the top two seeds.

Lake Park would love a third shot after losing to Bartlett twice during the season. But first the Lancers will likely have to get past Elk Grove or Glenbard West. Bartlett has to contend with conference rival St. Charles North or DVC champion West Chicago.

"Elk Grove is good as heck, Mt. Prospect is a good No. 7 seed, there's a lot of good teams in there," Lake Park coach Cray Allen said. "Just because you have two teams that have been in the rankings all season, I don't think that means a whole lot in sectionals."

Behind DePaul recruit Lynsey Ciezki and fellow senior and Iowa-bound Missy Mazur, the Lancers have come on strong after a tough midseason stretch. As many as eight sophomores have played for Lake Park.

"We could be further along, but we'll see how far we can go," Allen said. "We'll see how far these seniors take us."