Glenbard North's belief rewarded

Glenbard North's softball team had one word in mind during in its Class 4A Bartlett regional final against Bartlett: believe.

The eighth-seeded Panthers (18-11) knew it wasn't favored to beat the top seed, but they believed long enough, all 12 innings worth. In the 12th, it paid off. With runners on the corners with one out in a 2-2 game, Elisabeth Walter had two options: hitting for a basehit if the infield played in, or bunting if they played back.

She saw the Hawks (27-7) playing back, not ready for what was next.

Walter laid down the suicide squeeze to perfection, which couldn't find a glove down the first-base line, allowing Walter to reach base safely. Bri DiGioia, charging from third, scored, giving Glenbard North the lead and the regional championship in 12 innings, 3-2.

"We were expecting balls to be hit on the ground, balls to be hit somewhere," said Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith. "She had to bunt in a good spot, and it was a hard-hit play. We were expecting something else and going home with it."

"This was by far one of the best games I've ever been apart of. Both teams played excellent," Panthers coach Josh Sanew said. "Beautiful team win. Whenever we play together as a team, we're tough to beat. I am so proud of them."

Lauren Wydra started the game off with trouble. After walking leadoff hitter Hannah Santora, Amanda Cygan was hit by a pitch. Glenbard North then scored 2 on a throwing error that went wide of the third base on a force attempt after DiGioia lined to the shortstop.

Despite the runs Wydra no-hit Glenbard North until the 10th, striking out 13 and walking one. Though Santora gave up a game-tying 2-run homer to Wydra in the third, she also went the distance, striking out 11.

"After that home run I really was mad," Santora said. I knew Bartlett was a good team and I wanted to do well. We all kept our heads up."

A pitchers' duel was on. The next scoring opportunity for either team came in the 10th when Callie Dennison doubled to left and Rachel Anello was hit by a pitch. Santora, though, induced a grounder to end the inning, squandering Bartlett's chance.

With no end in sight, DiGioia singled, leading of the 12th. Soon after, Alyssa Jasinski reached base on an error when she bunted DiGioia over to second. After a fielder's choice advanced DiGioia to third, Walter laid down the squeeze, which no Hawk could field down the first-base line, scoring DiGioia. Santora pitched a 1-2-3 12th, sealing it.

"The word of the day was believe," Walter said. "We had to believe in ourselves, we just had to do it."

"It was a great season, but when they're done being sad they're going to look back on say what a great season we had and how much fun we had," Wolfsmith said.

Dennison and Nicole Beck both went 2-for-4 for the Hawks.