Lisle starts late, finishes fast
Like first pitch Wednesday, Lisle's bats got a late start.
The result was familiar.
The Lions spotted Timothy Christian a 2-run lead after an inning but rolled from there to a 12-2 win at the Class 2A Lisle sectional at Benedictine University.
"It shows that we can't underestimate teams when we come out and play, because I think we did a little bit," said Lisle sophomore Mackenzie Buchelt, who went 3-for-4 and drove in 2 runs. "We just have to keep doing what we've been doing."
Wednesday's game, originally scheduled for Thursday, was pushed up to accommodate Timothy Christian's prom. A lightning delay pushed back two hours the start of Wednesday's first semifinal won by Westmont.
Lisle's win was its sixth straight, but the first time the Lions (21-9) have been scored on since the first game in that stretch.
"It was hard, because we had been sitting around all day waiting to play," Lisle coach Jen Pomatto said. "It wasn't until 2:30 p.m. Monday that we found out we were playing today, and then we had the lightning delay.
"I told the girls I'm OK with the other team scoring 2 runs early as long as we're on the winning end. I think it woke us up a little bit."
Timothy Christian (12-18), shut out 9-0 by Lisle starter Bekka Houda in April, got things started in the first as Emma Heyboer reached second base on a throwing error with one out. Janna Strodtman then drilled a double into the gap in left-center. She scored the Trojans' second run when the throw went into the dugout.
"I like when we start out with a good lead because then all the pressure is off," said Strodtman, who played center field instead of pitching because of an injured wrist. "Unfortunately it didn't work out for us."
Houda (14-5) settled down after that, striking out 7 straight batters after a one-out single in the second.
"I was a little bit frustrated. I'm not gonna lie," Houda said. "We had a nice shutout streak going, and I was hoping for another one. But it happens. I got into a rhythm there. I was in a zone."
Lisle pulled even 2-2 in the third, Buchelt doubling in the tying run with two outs. Dani Grego's two-strike slap hit past two infielders scored Stephanie Petkovsek with the go-ahead run in the fourth and 2 more runs scored on an error and wild pitch.
Lisle broke things open with 2 in the fifth and 5 more runs in the sixth.
"I'm glad we got our bats going after one time through the lineup," Pomatto said. "We settled down and capitalized on the mistakes they made."
Lisle can match its sectional championship of a year ago with a win Saturday over Westmont. The Lions swept their conference rival 11-2 and 9-0 this season.
"The girls have done a really good job of not taking anything for granted," Pomatto said. "They are well aware that anybody can be beaten at this time of year."