West Aurora's Becker once again silences WW South
The postseason proved to be a continuation of the regular season for Wheaton Warrenville South.
Pitted against league rival West Aurora at the Blackhawks' Class 4A softball regional semifinal on Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers suffered yet another hard-luck loss. For the third time this season, West Aurora and its Mississippi State-bound ace, southpaw Stephanie Becker, defeated WW South 1-0.
With their third shutout victory over the 11th-seeded Tigers, the Blackhawks (17-16), the eighth seed in the Neuqua Valley sectional complex, advance to face No. 2 Naperville Central (27-6) Saturday morning in Aurora. Naperville Central won both of the teams' conference games during the regular season. WW South closed out its season at 11-21.
Becker fanned 15 WW South batters after missing the last nine days with a left elbow injury.
"We knew what we were going against," WW South coach Denise McCance said.
West Aurora leadoff batter Lari Mitchell scored the only run of the contest in the bottom of the first inning. The freshman singled in the hole between shortstop and third and took second on Alyssa Reimers' sacrifice bunt.
WW South failed to field a grounder to the left side by third-place hitter Devin Vaughn, and Martin scampered home on a WW South misplay in the infield as Vaughn was trying to steal second.
"That one mistake cost us the game," said McCance. "The plan is for the pitcher (Bekah Monday) to cut it off."
"That was the big play of the game getting that early run," said Becker.
The four-year varsity starter mowed down seven consecutive WW South batters bridging the first through third innings. WW South managed only 2 hits and a walk off Becker, who did not allow a runner past second base.
"I got to mentally refresh myself (during the layoff)," Becker said. "They were trying to get hits and helped us out (by swinging at non-strikes)."
The coaches were in agreement regarding the Becker observation.
"They helped (Becker) by expanding the strike zone," West Aurora coach Dave Zine said. "It's a huge win for us."
"We weren't very disciplined with (Becker's riseball)," McCance said.
Becker changed speeds effectively, using a combination of riseballs and drop-curveballs; Vaughn, the Blackhawks' shortstop, had three of the four infield assists. Izzy Vogt and Krysta Watts were the only WW South batters to solve Becker, who improved to 12-7 on the season.
West Aurora managed only 3 hits off two Tigers pitchers, Monday and Julianne LaFleur, but the unearned run held up for Becker.
"(Becker) has her full velocity back," West Aurora catcher Maribeth Vasquez said.