Micucci, Pats prevail in eight

Allison Micucci is just one part of the Stevenson softball team.

For the second straight regional game, Micucci led the Patriots -- not just on the mound but with a big hit in the eighth inning -- and she scored the game-winning run Saturday.

And her teammates contributed big-time in the dugout.

"Our big thing is rock your hips and that's all I wanted to do," Micucci said. "That's what we do in the dugout the whole time we bat. I knew I had to use my power and that's what happened."

Micucci's big swing led fifth-seeded Stevenson past No. 4 Palatine 5-4 in eight innings to win the Libertyville Class 4A regional title.

Stevenson (19-17) plays top-seeded Barrington on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in a sectional semifinal at Barrington. The Fillies edged host No. 8 Zion-Benton 1-0 with a run in the last inning.

The smash by Micucci took a wicked hop and brought home Tovah Schwartz from third base to break a 4-4 tie and put the Patriots ahead 5-4.

"I thought for sure she (the second baseman) was going to get it and I'd be out," Micucci said. "I just ran my heart out. I just wanted to get there."

In the bottom half of the inning, Micucci (8-8) closed the door on Palatine (19-9) with 3 strikeouts

"I didn't want to take the lead lightly," said Micucci, who struck out seven and walked one. "This part of the order, I was having the hardest time. I wanted to go right at them like any other hitter."

Stevenson had broken an eight-game losing streak Wednesday with a shutout over Libertyville.

"The advantage we've had is that we've lost some close games," said Patriots coach Larry Friedrichs. "Luckily, we've been in some close games. I think from that standpoint we can stay fairly composed. Things just fell into place so nicely."

The Patriots put a four-spot on the board in the fourth inning. Annalise Docel had an RBI single, Micucci followed with a 2-run single and later scored on a delayed steal for the 4-0 lead.

But the Pirates bounced back with 3 runs in the bottom half. Bre Quaritsch scored on an error for the first run, and Nikki Linares added a 2-run single that made the score 4-3.

Palatine tied the game 4-4 in the sixth when Steph Roto crossed the plate on an error. A double play ended the inning.

"Probably the way we came back, we just put ourselves into a bind," said Palatine coach Jeff Manz. "We made three mistakes in that third inning when they scored 4 runs. It made it tough when we did that. We did score 3 runs and another. Then we had a couple of calls go against us. Obviously, in the last inning, they got the hit getting the run in with two outs. Our kids played hard and it's tough to lose a game this way."

Vernon Hills 7, R-B 2: At Amundsen, the top-seeded Cougars scored 4 runs in the bottom of the third inning to snap a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat No. 9 Richmond-Burton in the Class 3A regional final.

Jessica Schwartz hit her third homer since being called up late in the season and drove in three runs for Vernon Hills (29-6). She went 2-for-3, as did Charlotte Hoffmann, who had a double and an RBI. Erin Christensen was 2-for-4 with a run knocked in.

Adriana Longobardi also had a double. Alyssa Dougherty contributed a single and an RBI.

Cougars pitcher Jackie Allen (18-3) allowed 7 hits over 7 innings. She struck out five and didn't walk a batter.

Vernon Hills will play No. 5 Huntley at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Richmond-Burton sectional semifinals.

Johnsburg 2, Antioch 1: At Antioch, Alyssa Popp's RBI single scored Jordan Hauck in the bottom of the seventh to lift the third-seeded Skyhawks to the Class 3A regional championship.

No. 6 Antioch (23-12) had tied the score in the top of the inning on Jen Precht's sacrifice fly that scored Kaley Lindstrom.

Johnsburg's Darcy Tegtmeier's home run in the sixth snapped a scoreless tie. Winning pitcher Amanda Daly struck out nine to outduel the Sequoits' Ashley Mysliwiec.

Anne Bruce went 2-for-3 for Antioch.

Johnsburg moves on to the Richmond-Burton sectional and will play No. 2 Marengo at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Marengo 6, Wauconda 2: At Marengo, the second-seeded Indians prevailed to win the Class 3A regional final.

No. 7 Wauconda had its successful season end at 19-9.

Huntley 3, Marian Central 1: At Grayslake North, the fifth-seeded Red Raiders scored all of their runs in the top of the seventh to win the Class 3A regional final in dramatic fashion.

Jenna Mychko led off the Huntley seventh with a home run over the right-field fence, tying the score at 1-1.

Consecutive doubles by Deana DeBosschere and Amanda Wisniewski and a single by Arianna Albanese gave Huntley its two-run lead.

Samantha Clemons went the distance for Huntley, scattering 4 hits.

Marian Central was led by Molly Conlon with 2 hits and pitcher Heather Gadishar, who struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.

Huntley will play top-seeded Vernon Hills in the Richmond-Burton sectional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.