Lightning takes 3rd in Normal

The Northern Illinois Lightning women’s fastpitch softball team opened its 2011 summer season with a third-place finish at the 25th annual Lady Hearts Invitational in Normal over the weekend.

The Lightning went 4-2 on the weekend and is now 5-2-2 for the season.

After losing to the Michigan Hooters 9-1 in its first game in Normal, the Lightning came back to beat the Hooters 7-1 then downed the host Lady Hearts 2-1 to complete pool play. A 4-1 win over the Stone City Sharks and a come-from-behind 6-5 triumph over the Indiana Slammers put the Lightning in the tournament semifinals, where the lost to the Hooters 4-3.

Stevenson graduate Genny Duffy (St. Thomas-MN) led the Lightning offense going 8-for-17 for the weekend with 5 RBI. Her home run against the Slammers brought the game Lightning to within 5-4 then her 2-run triple in the top of the seventh inning accounted for the game-tying and winning runs.

Indiana University junior Jessica Dobson led the way in the circle with 3 wins for the weekend, while Valparaiso University senior Alex Lagesse beat the Hearts and pitched the Lightning deep into the win over the Slammers.

Kaitlin Hardie (Crystal Lake South/Winona State) and Sarah Carlson each contributed 5 hits to the offense as well.

“Stellar weekend,” said Lightning manager John Radtke. “Anytime you can go to Normal and beat the Hearts, the Hooters and the Slammers in the same weekend it’s a good weekend. And, it’s two years running that we’ve done that. I’m very pleased with the weekend.”

The Lightning will host its annual Summer Bash tournament this weekend at the Elgin Sports Complex. A total of 54 teams in four age divisions, including 14U, 16U, 18U and women, will compete, beginning Friday at 8 a.m.

For a complete Summer Bash schedule and more information on the Lightning, log on to www.eteamz/com/northerillnoislightning.