4A Lake Park sectional preview

Class 4A Lake Park sectional semifinals

No. 5 St. Charles North (26-9) vs. No. 9 Glenbard West (22-14)

When: 5 p.m. today

What to watch: The North Stars expected to be playing top-seed Elk Grove in this game, a team that handcuffed St. Charles North early in the season. Instead, it is the No. 9 seeded Hilltoppers fresh off a 1-0 upset over Elk Grove. North Star pitchers Amanda Engel and Amanda Ciran, who combined to hold Lake Park to 2 runs in 9 innings Saturday in a 3-2 regional final win, will need to keep Glenbard West center fielder Jayme Hefler, a senior going to Lewis, off the bases. Hefler bats second and is hitting .537 with 32 runs, 27 stolen bases and a good glove in center. Catcher Ashley Steinhilber hit the home run to beat Elk Grove. The left-hander has a rocket arm behind the plate. Glenbard West is doing this without Notre Dame-bound shortstop Kathryn Lux, who was lost before the season started with a shoulder injury. Glenbard West can relate a little to St. Charles North's 8 sophomore starters with its all-sophomore and freshman infield. The Hilltoppers will try to slow a North Star attack with five all-Upstate Eight performers. From top to bottom there aren't many easy outs. Ashley Seering is coming off a 3-hit game in the No. 5 spot, and she follows Loren Cihlar, Sydney Russell, Taylor Russell and Julia Clare Plezbert in the St. Charles North lineup.

Advancement: Winner plays Bartlett/Glenbard North winner in championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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