Great Scott: Burlngton Central edges Glenbard South

Dominant all season in the pitcher's circle, Mackenzie Scott's last best moment came with the bat.

The Burlington Central senior's two-out, 2-run double in the sixth inning gave the Rockets a 3-1 win over Glenbard South in Saturday's Class 3A state softball third-place game at East Peoria's EastSide Centre.

"It was just good timing." Scott said. "She just put it in there and I swung. Out of my four years I've never won my last game before. It means a lot."

Friday's action brought out the best and worst in softball. The 3A semifinals featured a total of 18 errors. Two no-hitters followed in the 4A games.

The play was much cleaner Saturday morning - but Burlington Central did capitalize on Glenbard South's 2 errors.

In the third inning Kayla Oranger reached on a two-out bunt single, stole second and moved to third on a wild throw from the catcher. Brittany Priest's two-strike single gave the Rockets a 1-0 lead.

Priest poked a two-strike single to left leading off the sixth, and was sacrificed to second. Lindsay Lange's pop up near the plate was caught, then dropped, by a diving catcher.

Scott promptly banged a double up the alley in right-center to bring home both.

"After yesterday," Rockets coach Scot Sutherland said, "with all the opportunities we had with two outs and not stepping up I put it all on the kids' preparation and getting themselves ready to play today.

"In the playoffs (Scott) hasn't hit as well but that's what she's been doing all year is what you saw in that last at bat."

Glenbard South (24-14) stranded leadoff runners in the first and fourth, then broke through in the fifth.

Amanda Fazzari walked to start things. After two Scott strikeouts Amanda Straka singled and Lauren Podgorski walked to load the bases.

Raiders freshman Brianna Meath, back in the lineup after turning an ankle in Friday's game, dropped a single just in back of third base. Fazzari scored, but Straka was cut down at the plate on a perfect throw from the outfield.

"Eight times out of 10 she's probably safe," said Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda, who also had a runner thrown out at third on an attempted steal. "I'd do it the same every single time."

Scott (21-3) struck out 11 for Burlington Central (26-6), which had its best-ever finish in its third appearance in the state softball tournament.

"This experience is something you'll never forget," Sutherland said. "It's something that's already etched in my mind for the rest of my life."

Podgorski, Straka and Kristin Grossman were three seniors who led Glenbard South to state for the second straight year, after taking third a year ago. Doing so after a 1-8 start to the season made the trip sweeter.

"Even though we got fourth place this is just as special as last year," Podgorski said. "No one expected us to get here after the start to our season. As Fonda said, it's definitely a Cinderella story. I'm going to miss all the girls on the team."

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