Big firsts for Hersey
Palatine scored first in Wednesday’s semifinal of the Hoffman Estates Class 4A softball regional.
But then Hersey finished with some big firsts.
The No. 8-seeded Huskies won their first regional game in five seasons under coach Molly Freeman as junior Sarah Platt fired a 4-hitter for a 9-2 triumph over the No. 9 Pirates.
It also marked the first time under Freeman the Huskies were not in a regional play-in game to start the state tourney and first time they started the regional with a record of .500.
The Huskies (18-17) advanced to Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship against top-seeded Conant (30-3).
“I’m very proud of how we played,” said Huskies first baseman and leadoff batter Alex Tinaglia, who will continue her career at Iowa State. “We were so pumped up. We didn’t want our season to end. Personally, I did not want to go home.”
The Huskies crossed home 6 times in the second inning after two were out to overcome a 1-0 deficit.
Sophomore double player Kelsey Panfil, playing in only her second varsity game, scored Hersey’s first run when she came home on an infield error.
The Huskies went on to score 5 more runs with a 2-run triple to right by Tinaglia, an RBI double to left by Alysia Zaucha and a 2-run single by Melissa Cecala.
“I just think this team has gotten so close the last few months and that’s why we are playing so well,” Tinaglia added. “We know if anyone makes a mistake, someone is there to pick them up.
“It’s all worked out really nice. It’s great for our coach, getting to the regional championship for the first time. I just can’t say anything more.”
The Huskies said some more with their bats in the sixth inning when they tacked on 3 runs with two outs. There was an RBI double to left from Panfil, an RBI single to left by Cecala and Zaucha scored on an error.
“They capitalized on our mistakes,” said Pirates coach Jeff Manz. “All their runs were with two outs. That’s what happened to us a lot all season. We haven’t closed innings.
“But they pitched well and I give credit to Molly (Freeman). They deserved to win.”
Freeman had another first Wednesday with catcher Michele Helminski catching Platt for the first time. Regular catcher Angela Schmiederer is sidelined with a broken foot.
“Michele (Helminski) showed a lot of guts and she was calm,” Freeman said. “She had caught only two other games for us (for Michele Bolker). Michele handled it very well. For a sophomore to step in there like that is really exciting for the future.”
And the Hersey seniors did their part.
“We’re a senior-laden team and I’m proud of how they all stepped up,” Freeman added. “It was a do-or-die situation and they came through. This group of seniors has been awesome.”
Cecala, a senior shortstop, came through with a 3-for-4 performance with 3 RBI and some sparkling defense.
Palatine (16-20) got the 1-0 lead in the first when Lauren Logan singled to center to score Tori Walzak, who also had an RBI groundout in fifth to make it 6-2.
The Pirates threatened to score again in the first with a runner on third and one out but Cecala came up with a big play. She fielded a ground ball by pitcher Megan Hedstrom and threw home to Helminski, who made the putout.
Cecala also recorded three straight assists for the final two outs of the fifth and first of the sixth.
“Melissa was outstanding,” Freeman added. “Her glove is ridiculous. She has tremendous reflexes. She makes some unbelievable plays.”
Haley Henriksen (2-for-4) was Hersey’s other multiple hitter while teammates Zaucha and Gina Fasolo also had base hits.
Platt, who struck out two, retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced.
“I knew we could get that run back,” said Platt of the 1-0 deficit. “I had confidence in my offense.”