Burke, Bartlett stymie Glenbard West
As a pitcher, it’s always nice to have a go-to pitch, and it’s even nicer when that go to pitch is almost untouchable.
Bartlett senior Tori Burke used her riseball to her advantage as she struck out 13 Glenbard West hitters Saturday in Bartlett’s 2-0 win in the championship game of the Class 4A Bartlett regional.
The Hawks (28-8) will take on West Chicago at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals of the Lake Park sectional.
After Burke (17-6) sat down the Hilltoppers first 3 hitters via the strikeout, the Hawks threatened in the bottom of the inning, but could not push any across as they stranded runners on second and third.
Leaving runners in scoring position would be a theme for the Hawks throughout the rest of the game as they left runners on second base in the final 3 out of 5 innings.
“Two-out hitting with runners in scoring position is one of the most important things in the game. ” Bartlett coach Jim Wolsmith stated, “It’s also one of the hardest things to do. The opposing pitcher is buckling down to hit her spots and she wants you to hit the ball someplace where it is going to be less likely for a run to score.”
Which is exactly what Glenbard West sophomore pitcher Taylor Langtry (17-7) did.
In the second inning, with a runner at second base and one out, Langtry used her changeup to keep the next 2 hitters off balance and induce 2 strikeouts to end the threat.
In the top of the fifth inning, Meghan Johnson broke up Burke’s perfect game and no-hit bid with a solid single into center field. Just when it looked as if momentum was changing, Burke once again went back to the rise and was able to catch a sacrifice bunt attempt by Maggie Stalker and throw to first base for the double play. She then struck out the next batter to give the Hawks some life.
It was in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Hawks would strike and score the only 2 runs of the game.
Amanda Montbriand led off the inning with a single up the middle and promptly stole second base on the next pitch. After Langtry buckled down to get the next 2 batters, it was Andreana Taormina that placed a perfect slap single just inside of the third base foul line to drive in Montbriand. Kaylyn Zierke then drove a single through the middle to give the Hawks an insurance run.
The Hilltoppers’ best scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth inning as Natalie Noland led off the inning with a flare down the right field line. The next hitter, Emi Pavia, walked and a throwing error on a pick off attempt to second base put runners at second and third with nobody out.
Burke would let the runners get no further as she struck out the next 3 batters to get out of the jam.
“My adrenaline was up and in my mind I knew that it was just me and that batter, “ stated Burke who threw a 2-hitter . “I know the situation and I know what I’m going to do if they put the ball in play, but in those crucial situations I just take it one batter at a time, hit my spots, and try to stay ahead in the count.”
The Hilltoppers had one final chance in the top of the seventh, and after 2 hard shots to center field that Cara Carrion snagged, Burke would record her 13th strikeout to end the game.
“I don’t think we made adjustments early enough, give her some credit for mixing it up, but offensively I think we are better than that,” Glenbard West coach Mary McGrane stated.”We should have made the adjustments early on and unfortunately we weren’t very disciplined at the plate today.”