West Chicago 8, Glenbard North 6

West Chicago was in uncharted territory.

Never in program history had the Wildcats softball team been on the brink of such an achievement.

There were some anxious moments, but West Chicago has a date in a sectional championship game.

The Wildcats raced to an early lead over league rival Glenbard North in the Class 4A Schaumburg sectional semifinal Wednesday afternoon, only to witness one last pulsating at-bat.

The Panthers had the tying runs in scoring position with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but West Chicago pitcher Mary Connolly induced a routine grounder to cement the Wildcats' 8-6 victory in Schaumburg.

"It was like a basketball team that didn't know how to protect the lead," said West Chicago coach Jim Schaudt, who is retiring at the conclusion of the state playoffs. "We're not used to (big leads). We're usually clawing and scratching to win by a run."

West Chicago (24-6), the fifth seed, will meet the winner between second-seeded Lake Park and No. 6 Glenbard West on Saturday morning in the finals.

Glenbard North, the eighth seed, concluded its year at 18-12.

The Wildcats' Alyson Taddeucci and Megan Scott made sure the expected pitchers' duel never materialized.

Taddeucci came to the plate with the bases juiced but facing a 1-and-2 count in the bottom of the first.

"With two strikes I had to protect the plate," Taddeucci said.

Tadddeucci did far more.

The sophomore parked a grand slam over the left-field fence to stake West Chicago to an early 4-0 lead.

"I didn't expect to get a grand slam at all," Taddeucci said. "I was speechless."

Jenny Blasius' run-scoring single sliced the Panthers' deficit in the second, but Scott had another surprise in store for Glenbard North.

Chrissie Rovtar restored the Wildcats' 4-run lead with a sacrifice fly, and Scott drilled a majestic 3-run shot to dead center on the first pitch she saw to give West Chicago a commanding 8-1 lead.

"I just found the one I liked," Scott said. "We all played like a team today."

Connolly (23-6) recorded 12 strikeouts to silence the Panthers' bats over the middle portion of the game. The freshman used a changeup with devastating effect.

"She was throwing it for strikes," said Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew.

But the game changed over the final two innings; West Chicago committed 4 errors during the span, nearly squandering its early cushion.

Blasius had a 2-run single in the sixth, but West Chicago shortstop Izzy Bruce fielded the final play flawlessly to end the Panthers' season.

"I have to compliment my team for the way they battled back," Sanew said.

West Chicago senior Linnea Detrick had 3 hits and scored twice.