Softball/Scouting DuPage County’s Class 3/4A postseason
Glenbard South looks like a strong bet to return to state for the fourth time in five years in Class 3A. lsewhere Glenbard North and Benet have both enjoyed outstanding seasons, but both face difficult paths to state in Class 4A.
Here’s now the next couple of weeks stack up:
Class 4A East Aurora sectional
Regional hosts: Plainfield South, Metea Valley, Plainfield North, Romeoville
Top sectional seeds: Benet, Naperville Central, Lockport, Plainfield Central
At Plainfield South: Can Benet bang its way back to state? The top sectional seed Redwings, who have scored nearly 10 runs per game and hit 46 home runs, open regional play today versus Oswego East. Maeve McGuire (.542, 16 homers, 23 doubles, 46 RBI) is 3 homers shy of tying the state’s single-season record and Marissa Panko (.588) is the area’s leading hitter, just ahead of teammate Julianne Rurka (.580). No. 9 seed Neuqua Valley (20-15), led by sophomore Jamie O’Brien (.436, 11 triples, 29 RBI) bounced back from a recent six-game losing streak to win four in a row, including a nine-inning win at Bartlett. Neuqua will play No. 8 Plainfield South, which beat the Wildcats 5-3 on May 12, in Wednesday’s sectional semifinal. Benet the Wildcats 17-10 in Neuqua’s season opener in March.
At Metea Valley: No. 5 seed Waubonsie Valley (25-8), which last week won its first conference championship since 2001, now goes after its first regional title since 1997. Compromising those chances, though, is the uncertain status of star shortstop Amanda Minahan. The Warriors’ top hitter was hit on the elbow by a pitch Saturday against Elk Grove; it is badly bruised and Minahan may not be able to go this week. Waubonsie, which also features freshman pitcher Shannon Hohman (20-5, 1.47 ERA) and sophomore catcher Amanda Lack (.398), won nine straight games recently, including back-to-back wins over Bartlett and consecutive extra-inning walk-off wins last week. The Warriors beat No. 4 seed Plainfield Central 5-2 in March and swept its first-round opponent, No. 12 Metea Valley, 8-5 and 6-1 in conference play. Keying Metea (17-16) is junior shortstop Anna Petersen (.505, 9 homers, 34 RBI) and Alise Perna (.372).
At Plainfield North: No. 3 seed Lockport, which plays Plainfield North today, has won regional titles the last four years, and 10 of the last 11. Don’t overlook Naperville North, though. The Huskies (21-12), led by senior leadoff hitter Steph Tobin and sophomore catcher Kailee Budicin, set a program win record last week and have already knocked off Glenbard North, Benet and Bartlett this season. Naperville North upset Downers Grove North in last year’s regional final for the program’s first regional title since 1996.
At Romeoville: No team is happier to put last week behind it and get the second season started than No. 2 seed Naperville Central. The Redhawks (25-9), who play the East Aurora/Romeoville winner today, dropped their last three games — including two at West Chicago which cost them a shot at their first DVC title since 1989. Should it bounce back well this week, Naperville Central could be Benet’s most formidable sectional foe, led by shortstop Kelsey Gonzalez and an outstanding pitching duo in Kristina Vizza and Keegan Hayes. The Redhawks split a recent doubleheader with No. 10 seed Batavia, which plays No. 7 Plainfield East today.
Advancement: The Plainfield South and Metea regional winners meet in one sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. on May 30, with the regional winners from Plainfield North and Romeoville meeting at 7 p.m. that night. The East Aurora sectional winner advances to the Normal supersectional to play the Edwardsville sectional winner June 4.
Class 4A Lake Park sectional
Regional hosts: Bartlett, Geneva, St. Charles North, Hinsdale South
Top sectional seeds: Glenbard North, Bartlett, Downers Grove North, Lake Park
At Bartlett: The second-seeded Hawks (26-8) have lost five of six coming into the playoffs, and it won’t be easy for Bartlett to get out of its regional. Glenbard West (21-13), co-champion of the West Suburban Silver, opens regional play today versus No. 10 Wheaton Warrenville South. Jacklyn Tyburk (.465, 15 doubles, 36 RBI) and Meghan Johnson (.360, 44 RBI) lead an aggressive, good-hitting Hilltoppers team that beat No. 3 sectional seed Downers Grove North two weeks ago. Senior outfielder Kristy Santora (.420, 30 RBI) leads WW South (17-17).
At Geneva: Downers Grove North (29-6), which last won a sectional title in 1979, has the pitching to do it again with the combo of UIC-bound junior Elaine Heflin (15-4) and Purdue recruit Dale Ryndak (12-2). Sam Yeager, with 10 homers, is the big thumper in the Trojans’ lineup. It could be an all-Downers Grove regional final, but No. 6 Downers Grove South (24-10) has a tough assignment first. The Mustangs, led by Katy LaCivita and Jessica Andree, got a tough draw in No. 11 West Chicago. The Wildcats (22-11), led by Amanda Gosbeth (.402) and Rachel Johnson (.302), come in off an impressive sweep of Naperville Central.
At. St. Charles North: Top seed Glenbard North (31-2), which opens regional play today against Glenbard East, seeks its first sectional title since 2005. The DVC champion Panthers are well-equipped to do it, led by Purdue-bound senior ace Lilly Fecho (24-2), who has thrown five no-hitters this year. Glenbard North beat potential regional final opponents St. Charles East and St. Charles North by 6-1 and 11-1 scores, respectively, during the season. Upstate Eight River champ St. Charles North (22-12), last year’s 4A state runner-up, enter the playoffs on a roll led by Northwestern-bound sophomore pitcher/leadoff hitter Sabrina Rabin.
At Hinsdale South: This is maybe the most wide-open of any area 4A regional. No. 4 seed Lake Park (20-15), playoff-tested against perhaps the area’s toughest schedule, features a balanced lineup led by Tara Palandri and Stephanie Starr that has not been shut out this season. The Lancers’ first-round draw is no picnic, though, playing No. 13 York and senior ace Tessa Kroll, who led the Dukes to a surprising regional title two years ago. The other first-round regional game is a rubber match between West Suburban Gold foes Hinsdale South, seeded fifth, and No. 12 Willowbrook. The Warriors (20-15), led by pitcher Darian Pelsor and freshman shortstop Sam Schmidt, have clinched their first winning season since 1994 and won at Hinsdale South 5-0 three weeks ago. Hinsdale South (22-11) is led by Lauren Cairo (.429) and Sabrina Kuchta (.340, 37 RBI).
Advancement: The St. Charles North and Hinsdale South regional winners meet in the May 30 sectional semifinal at Lake Park, with the Bartlett and Geneva regional winners playing the next day. The Lake Park sectional winner meets the Niles West sectional champ in one of two supersectionals at Rosemont Stadium June 4.
Class 3A Glenbard South sectional
Regional hosts: Montini, Riverside-Brookfield, Nazareth, Queen of Peace
Top sectional seeds: Glenbard South, St. Francis, Riverside-Brookfield, Nazareth
Outlook: Top seed Glenbard South (31-4), which has won 16 of its last 17 coming in and four sectionals over the last five years, is the odds-on favorite here. The Raiders’ potent lineup, led by Danielle Chitkowski, Hannah Davey and Brianna Meath and junior Jane Trzaska, are a strong contender to win it all in 3A with wins this year over 4A foes Trinity, Downers Grove North and Richards as well as defending 3A champion Marengo. St. Francis (26-3), led by Brie Pasquale (.564, 34 RBI) and Alyssa Fernandez (.541, 8 homers, 40 RBI) is perhaps the Raiders’ biggest obstacle to state. First St. Francis must likely win a rubber match with conference rival Montini (21-14) in a regional final. Montini, led by Lauren Trojnar and Tori Shipbaugh, beat St. Francis in walk-off fashion in April but the Spartans won the rematch 12-0.
Advancement: The Queen of Peace and Nazareth regional winners meet in one sectional semifinal May 30 at Glenbard South, with the Montini and Riverside-Brookfield regional winners playing May 31. The Glenbard South sectional winner will meet the Fenton sectional winner, where the No. 1 seed is Fenton, in one of two supersectionals at Elgin’s Judson University June 4.