Bartlett stops Glenbard North

Opportunity knocked for the Bartlett softball team Thursday afternoon, and the Hawks made sure to take advantage.

An illegal pitch by Glenbard North's Hannah Santora negated a would-be strikeout, setting the stage for Elizabeth Kay's 2-run double in the top of the second inning and propelling the Hawks to a 2-1 victory in the semifinals of the Class 4A Lake Park sectional.

Shortstop Nicole Beck initiated the Bartlett rally with a one-out single to center field before taking second base on the pitch.

Sophomore Jackie Gulcynzki capitalized on her extra chance at the plate, knocking a single of her own to center field. After a strikeout Kay drove a two-strike Santora offering off the wall in center field, giving the Hawks all the offense they would need.

"Jackie did a great job. She took advantage of the illegal pitch, she got on and I just came up with the hit," Kay said. "It was two strikes, so I just choked up a bit. I wanted to put the ball in play no matter what."

Despite failing to record a single strikeout, Bartlett (21-14) pitcher Callie Dennison ensured Kay's 2-run double would stand up. The 5-foot-7 junior consistently kept the Panthers off balance with her changeup.

"Every pitch was on today," Dennison said. "My changeup was my weapon today. I got it for strikes, I got them chasing.

"(We) called it 0-2, 3-0. It was my pitch today."

Glenbard North's (25-9) lone run came in the bottom of the sixth, as catcher Bri DiGioia laced a screaming line drive over the left-center field fence for a solo home run.

The Panthers nearly took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Hawks right fielder Chelsea Klein gunned down Susan Lindstrom at the plate to end the inning.

"I think it could have been a little bit (deflating)," Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew said. "You're stuck there in a position where you could be up 1-0, and once we get a lead we carry some momentum and we usually rise a little bit better with the energy."

After avenging last year's season-ending loss to Glenbard North, the Hawks will face St. Charles North on Saturday for the sectional championship - an Upstate Eight Conference rival Bartlett failed to defeat this year.

"They are a very good softball team," Hawks coach Jim Wolfsmith said of the North Stars. "They've got some good hitters, they've got a lot of speed, and they really put a lot of pressure on a defense to be sharp."