Jablonski, Roto propel Palatine
Before Wednesday's semifinal game of the IHSA Class 4A Palatine regional, Pirates softball coach Jeff Manz said he talked to his players about falling behind early.
"We told the kids if they (Warren) get the lead, we had to answer right back so they didn't get the momentum," Manz said.
Sophomore Joanne Jablonski was obviously listening intently.
After Warren jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first on junior Sarah Clauser's RBI single which scored classmate Alex Booker, Jablonski took matters into her own hands in the bottom of the inning.
With two outs, Jablonski crushed a homer over the fence in left-center tie the game 1-1.
The Pirates added runs in the third and fifth innings to post a 3-1 victory over the No. 9-seeded Blue Devils (15-18).
No. 8 Palatine (16-15) will face No. 1 Fremd (28-4) for the regional title at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Junior Chrissy Roto (12-11) earned the win with a 6-hitter and 4 strikeouts.
The right-hander received some nice defense from second baseman Katie Scovic, first baseman Katie Nawrot and a nifty 9-6-5 putout in the fifth inning.
Roto retired the final nine batters.
"It was a great team win," said Jablonski, who has 2 homers this spring. "Chrissy did a great job on the mound and we played great team defense."
"Chrissy stepped up again," Manz said. "They hit her early, but then she beared down. She threw only 80-some pitches. She finished strong and that's always a plus."
Shortstop Katie Mnichowicz singled to center and scored on Jablonski's two-out infield hit in the third.
The Pirates added their third two-out run in the fifth when catcher Alyx Ballenger singled home Mnichowicz, who was 2-for-3.
The speedy Booker, a junior outfielder who has committed to the University of Illinois, was Warren's only multiple hitter.
Booker appeared headed for a two-out triple in the fifth, but right-fielder Sam Salomone threw to her cutoff Mnichowicz, who relayed a perfect strike to third baseman Heather Zimmerman.
"I knew she was going to third and that I had to hit my cutoff," Salomone said. "I think that when Heather made the tag, it boosted the whole team."
"We work on that in practice all the time and it worked today," Manz said. "That's why Zim is at third base. She picks those throws up all the time and makes the play."
Warren pitcher Sam Berrios allowed 7 hits and struck out five. Junior catcher Emma Zupec tossed out two runners trying to steal second in the fourth inning.
"Both pitchers were good," said Warren coach Carri McGahan. "I think we were two pretty even teams. But they're a great team and a great program. They got a couple of key hits when they needed them, and unfortunately we made a few mistakes and they capitalized on them."
Elk Grove 7, Addison Trail 0: Jessica Balzano (2-for-4, triple, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Stephanie Maday (2-for-3, double, RBI) and Kristy Ottosen (2-for-3, 2 runs) were top hitters for the top-seeded Grenadiers, who advanced to Saturday's 11 a.m. championship game of the Class 4A Addison Trail regional. Elk Grove (32-3) will face the winner of today's semifinal between No. 8 Wheaton North and No. 9 Glenbard West.
Maday (4 innings, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 hits) and freshman Dani Goranson (8 strikeouts, 0 walks, 0 hits) combined to face only 22 batters.
Nikki Goranson and Olivia Roback also had hits for the Grenadiers.
Leyden 1, Niles West 0 (10): On her 15th birthday, freshman Morgan Maize was the winning pitcher and had a two-out RBI double off the fence in right-center that scored sophomore Christina Morgan in the 10th inning. No. 10 Leyden (17-15) advanced to Saturday's 10 a.m. championship of the Niles West regional to face top-seeded Loyola.