Guerin pitcher casts spell on Fenton

With ace pitcher Sarah Dec on the mound and a 2-run lead in the top of the seventh, Guerin appeared to be just three quick outs away from a chance at a softball sectional championship.

However, Fenton wouldn't go away without some late-inning magic that fell just short. Guerin defeated the Bison 2-1 Wednesday night at the Class 2A Elmwood Park sectional semifinals.

Dec was on cruise control all night, allowing just one hit while fanning 13 Bison batters through six innings.

"Somewhere in this game Sarah went over 800 career strikeouts," Guerin coach Tom Stein said. "She's been doing this for a long time."

In the fourth inning Guerin (29-5) finally gave Dec some support when second baseman Jessica Lisak led off the inning with a bunt single. Catcher Cassidy Tarpey followed promptly with an RBI triple, one-hopping the wall in right field.

Three batters later Molly Campbell came through with a 2-out RBI single to bring home Tarpey and give the Gators a 2-0 lead.

Fenton (15-23) finally started to solve Dec in the final inning. The Bison had more hits in the final inning than in the previous six innings combined.

"We had to get used to the pitcher and see her a couple times," tough-luck losing pitcher Marissa Vazquez said. "She's a really good pitcher and it was hard to get on base."

Fenton third baseman Marissa Santagata got the rally started when she singled sharply up the middle before first baseman Tara Lawson ripped a double down the left-field line, drawing the Bison within a run with only one out.

Fortunately for the Gators, Dec shook off any nerves as she mowed down the next hitter. She then got a groundout to strand the runner and preserve the win, as well as a berth in Saturday's sectional championship.

"I was a little nervous but more relaxed because I've been in situations like this before," Dec said. "I was excited to get the last out so we could move on. I was feeling a little tired, but I was still ready to go and my pitches were still moving and that's all I really needed."

Fenton, meanwhile, had a very young team take its program to previously uncharted waters.

"We had 13 freshmen and sophomores on this roster, and we went as far as any softball team in the school's history," Fenton coach Dave Mello said. "We're only losing one player, and if each girl gets a little bit better, we expect big things."