Barrington 6, Lake Park 1
EAST PEORIA -- Lake Park has become a familiar name at the state softball tournament the last six years.
The Lancers just didn't look like themselves Friday night.
Lake Park, in its fifth trip to state in the last six years, committed 4 costly errors that led to 5 unearned runs in losing to Barrington 6-1 in the Class 4A semifinals at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria.
The Lancers (33-5), who had their 19-game win streak snapped, will play New Trier at 4:30 p.m. today for third place.
"It just wasn't our day," Lake Park senior shortstop Lynsey Ciezki said, "offensively or defensively."
Barrington (31-6), last year's state runner-up, scored an unearned run in the second to grab a 1-0 lead. Kim Cygan reached on a Ciezki error and scored on Kiersten Tinkoff's 2-out single. The Fillies, leading 2-1 going into the seventh, scored 4 more unearned runs in that inning. Lake Park committed errors on three straight plays to start things, and Michal Jane Maropis delivered a 2-out, bases-clearing double.
"I thought we came out a little nervous. I know I did," Ciezki said. "It doesn't matter how many times you've been down here. It still gets to you. We just fell apart and got down on ourselves."
"Good teams take advantage of mistakes," Lake Park coach Cray Allen said, "and they did."
Barrington senior Jessica McGurn went 4-for-4 and drove in 2 runs. Her fourth-inning homer off Lake Park pitcher Missy Mazur (23-5) curled just inside the left-field foul pole, making it 2-0. She capped off a 4-run seventh with an RBI single.
"I was just seeing the ball really well. Even batting practice went well," McGurn said. "I was just thinking positive thoughts when I went to the plate."
Lake Park had scored 20 runs over its last three postseason games. But Cygan (30-6) silenced the Lancers' bats, striking out nine. She was perfect through three innings before Ciezki singled to lead off the fourth. Ciezki scored on Alexis Munaco's sacrifice fly, Barrington right fielder Lindsey Dulla reaching back for a tough catch near the fence to perhaps save a second run.
Ciezki singled with out in the sixth and took second on a groundout, but Cygan struck out Mazur swinging to preserve the 1-run lead.
"You have to tip your hat to Cygan," Allen said. "There has to be some pretty good movement on those pitches to make us look as bad as we did."
Lake Park was again denied a shot at its first state softball championship. But Allen is eager to see the group of girls play more like they did during its long win streak leading up to Friday.
"You still want to celebrate your season finishing with a win. That's what makes your journey so special," Allen said. "I think they will relish the fact that we get to play Lake Park softball tomorrow."