Ecstatic Wilkes pitches Glenbard South into state semifinal
With the post-supersectional victory photographs already taken, Glenbard South pitcher Jess Wilkes turned to look for her softball glove.
"I think when we won I just threw it because I got so happy when (Glenbard South coach Julie) Fonda was running toward me. She kind of scared me a little bit," Wilkes said. "She was going to give me a big hug. I just knew I was going to get mauled by my team."
That was about as scared as Wilkes appeared all day. The sophomore struck out eight, walked just one, allowed 3 hits and had only two batted balls reach the outfield as Glenbard South won the Class 3A Judson University supersectional, defeating Trinity 3-0 Monday in Elgin.
"I'm just ecstatic," Wilkes said. "I'm just speechless. I'm just so ecstatic. I've never been in this position before. This is awesome."
The victory earned the Raiders (24-12) their second straight trip to the IHSA Final Four in East Peoria, where. they placed third in 2008. It's a surprising spot for a team that had a less-than-stellar start to it season.
"This kid has come so far this year, after (the team started) 1-8, and just sticking with it," Fonda said. "She could have given up, and for a sophomore to have such poise that she's had over the past few games here. And (freshman pitcher Danielle Chitkowski) as well.
"But today Jess was focused. And after she came off the field after we got that lineout from (third baseman Amanda) Fazzari (to end the fifth inning), she was just straight faced."
"She did a real nice job today," Trinity coach Bob Osborne added about Wilkes. "She moved the ball well, kept it out of the zone and made us chase a little bit. We just couldn't put some hits together. We had a hit here, a hit there."
Wilkes (14-5) got all the offensive help she needed from her teammates in the first inning, which saw the Raiders package together 4 stolen bases and 3 hits, capped by Chitkowski's 2-run double that scored Brianna Meath and Jennifer Wittenberg.
There was a little controversy to the inning also. Trinity (25-14) thought Chitkowski had struck out on a two-strike bunt attempt, but the umpires disagreed. Then on the double a third Raiders run appeared to score but the runner was called out on appeal for not touching the plate.
No matter how they got it, getting the early lead was a key development for the Raiders.
"It makes us feel a lot better, it makes Wilkes feel a lot better when we're up," Fonda said. "It's important, and our offense knows that. It calms our pitchers when they know they have runs behind them, so it's important for us to come out and strike first blood."
"We were hoping for the same thing," Osborne added. "It gave them a little jump and it gave them a little confidence."
The Raiders got an insurance run in the fifth inning after two were out. Senior Lauren Podgorski walked and scored on Meath's triple to center field.
In the seventh inning Wilkes gave up a leadoff single to right field to Trinity's Monica Albano, but she struck out the next two batters and got the final out on an easy grounder to Meath at second.
"My infield is so strong," Fonda said. "Once the ball is hit in the infield, I feel great because I know nine times out of 10 we're going to get the out."
The Raiders will play in the state semifinals against Chatham Glenwood at noon Friday.