Numbers fail Naperville Central

Andy Nussbaum couldn't have drawn up a better equation in his Naperville Central math class:

Two early runs, 12 outs to go, one Natalie Wunderlich on the mound.

It just didn't add up to a sectional championship.

No. 6 seed Plainfield South rallied for 2 runs in the fourth and 1 in the fifth and beat Naperville Central 3-2 in Saturday's final of the Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional.

"We got 2 runs," Nussbaum said, "and that's what we wanted. We were just not able to finish."

Naperville Central (24-7), in its second sectional final in school history, grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second aided by 2 errors.

Wunderlich reached on an infield error, and Stephanie Lynch dropped down a perfect bunt in front of home plate that she made first on.

With two outs Maggie Buoy's high fly to center was dropped, scoring 2 runs.

Wunderlich (20-6), who shut out her last two playoff opponents, rolled through the first three innings with 5 strikeouts and no hits.

But with the wind blowing out to right field, Jackie Frey led off the fourth with a high fly that carried to the fence and wound up with a triple. An out later Wunderlich hit Alyssa Schrader with a pitch.

After a strikeout Alexis Alvarez lined a single to left to score Frey. Then Gaby Liberatore blooped one into short right. The tying run scored when the ball popped out of Katie Atwood's glove as she charged in for the play.

"The first two innings it seemed like it was going our way," Nussbaum said, "but then in the fourth and fifth we didn't get any breaks."

Frey drew a one-out walk in the fifth, and Mary Giancarlo hit a Wunderlich changeup into the gap in right center, scoring the go-ahead run.

"We knew their pitcher was good," Frey said, "and we knew that she threw hard. Coach said if we could just make contact, it would go."

Schrader (20-5) held Naperville Central hitless after the second inning, Atwood the lone baserunner with a walk in the fifth.

Plainfield South (26-8), which clinched the first sectional title in any sport in the school's brief six-year history, knocked off No. 3 seed Downers Grove South and No. 2 Lockport en route to Saturday. The Cougars will play Lake Park on Monday at Benedictine College.

"The girls are on a mission," Cougars coach Tara Singler said. "I think we've been under the radar."

On the other side Naperville Central's furthest advancement in the state tournament didn't make the loss any less bitter.

"We had a great season," Nussbaum said, "but I think to get an opportunity like this and have a lead with our pitcher as hot as she's been, and for us not to close, I think this will hurt more as time goes on."