Dash leads West Chicago past Batavia

Even through struggles at the plate, Taylor Dash seems to have a knack for the big hit.

Take Tuesday for example.

Dash doubled with one out in the fourth inning and scored West Chicago's first run in the No. 3 Wildcats' 2-0 win over No. 14 Batavia at the Class 4A West Chicago regional.

Dash, who smoked a liner to short her first time up, doubled to the gap in left-center. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and after a two-out Mary Connolly walk Dash dashed home on another wild pitch.

"We're an aggressive team," Dash said. "I had to relax and be patient. I've been struggling all year, but our coach kept me in there. She's kept faith in me. I did what I have to do."

Connolly has come to expect clutch play from Dash, whose average hovers around .200 heading into regionals.

"She's a great athlete to have on the team," Connolly said, "especially at that point in the lineup when the team needs a spark."

The run brought a big sigh of relief to West Chicago coach Emily Johnson, whose team was shut out by Naperville North in its last regular-season game. The Wildcats (25-9) didn't have a baserunner against Batavia pitcher Katie Neubauer until Dash's double.

"I think I took an outwardly breath for the first time in the game," Johnson said. "Taylor just comes through in those clutch situations. She has the last couple years. She stays very composed."

West Chicago, which will play No. 11 seed Wheaton Warrenville South in Friday's regional final, got an insurance run in the fifth. Rachel Johnson tripled to lead off and scored on a Kaity Olson sacrifice fly.

"We got the runs today when we needed them," Johnson said. "It was good enough today, but it won't be good enough Friday."

That was more than enough offense for Connolly (22-7), who took a no-hitter to two out in the fourth and struck out seven. She has allowed just 5 runs in six starts with three shutouts since a loss to Glenbard North May 10.

"That Glenbard North game was definitely a turning point for us in the season," Connolly said, "but now everybody starts over from square one. Records don't matter. You have to play your best no matter who you're playing."

Neubauer held West Chicago to just 4 hits. Batavia (18-20) stranded a runner at second base in the third inning and again in the seventh. Senior second baseman Katie Luetkens surmised that the game could have gone the other way with a few bounces the Bulldogs' way.

"We did as best as we could," Luetkens said. "When you play a clean game and come out on the other end that's all you can ask for. Props to the other team."

Luetkens was proud of how her team dealt with what was at times a trying season.

"This season we learned a lot about heart and coming together as a team," Luetkens said, "and overcoming adversity. That's one of the things as a captain you're always going to look back on."