Urban, Marsh make sure Meadows' season keeps going
Rolling Meadows senior starters Maddy Urban and Libby Marsh competed in their final high school home games Monday morning on a field where they've been playing together since they were 10 years old.
The veterans made their swan songs impressive ones against Hoffman Estates.
Shortstop Urban went 4-for-4 with three two-out RBI singles and a nifty grab of a line drive in the seventh inning.
First baseman Marsh played her position flawlessly, including a beautiful scoop which completed a 6-3 double play in the sixth inning, and she singled to center and scored in the second.
Together, they helped the No. 15-seeded Mustangs top No. 17 Hoffman Estates 7-2 in a play-in game of the Class 4A Schaumburg regional.
Meadows coach Tony Wolanski's teams are 3-0 in play-in games since he took over the program six years ago.
Meadows winning pitcher Josie Suchecki wasn't even in the program a year ago.
The freshman, who graduated from Carl Sandburg Middle School just 11 months ago, threw a 4-hitter with 2 strikeouts to help lead the Mustangs (17-17) into today's regional semifinal against No. 2 West Chicago (26-5) at Schaumburg.
"It's hard to believe it's our last home game," said Marsh, who plays first base much taller than her 5-foot-2 height would indicate. "Maddy and I have been playing here since we were in travel softball when we were 10 years old.
"We didn't want our season to end," said Urban, who came into the game hitting .400. "We did not want to lose."
Suchecki (12-9) has lost only once in her last 13 games.
"Josie has done a great job all season," Marsh said. "We have always been able to count on her to keep us in games. And it was nice that we could give her a little support this game."
Nursing a 3-2 lead, the Mustangs broke things open with a 3-run fourth inning in which Emily Skorin (walk), Danielle Mago (running for Suchecki who had an infield hit) and Urban (RBI single) all crossed the plate.
Urban scored on MaryClare Loughery's single to center.
"Maddy played very well," Wolanski said. "She and MaryClare have been a nice No. 3 and 4 hitting combination all season. This was probably one of our most completes games - hitting, pitching and defense.
"Josie did a great job. She battled like she has all season. She kept us in the game until our bats got going."
Kelsey Pellus had the top bat for Hoffman Estates (12-18).
The sophomore catcher and cleanup hitter drove in both of the Hawks' runs with singles to right field in the first and third innings.
Senior Colleen Roberts, who drew a leadoff walk to start the game and had a leadoff single in the third, scored both runs.
Both times she was sacrificed to second by freshman Linden Fick.
Hawks senior pitcher Kaitlin Walsh (0.91 ERA) struck out six, giving her 184 for the season.
"Three of our four seniors have been with me since I started here four years ago," said Hawks coach Lindsey Hamma. "I couldn't ask for a group of harder workers than these seniors who have really matured and set the standard for what Hoffman softball is all about.
"I'll miss them so much. I know they'll go on and do great things because they're are great kids."
Alex Wulbecker, who will be a walk-on at Northern Illinois, ended a stellar three-sport career at Hoffman - where she also played volleyball and basketball. She had a hit.
"It was a tough way to end the season," Hamma said. "But I am very proud of the girls. I wish Rolling Meadows the best of luck the rest of the way. They took advantage of our mistakes (4 errors) so hats off to them."