Bartlett’s Burke shuts out West Chicago

Bartlett has had many pitchers over the years who could affectionately be called a “bulldog” on the mound.

Tori Burke sure fits the decription.

Burke’s steely focus never wavered Friday, as she four-hit West Chicago and struck out eight in No. 2 seed Bartlett’s 4-0 win in the Class 4A Lake Park sectional semifinal in Roselle.

“We’ve had a bunch of good ones here, but she just continues to string up solid pitching,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. “Tori bore down and got a lot of outs. She’s been doing it all year.”

Burke (18-6) has allowed just 1 run in three playoff starts. Bartlett will probably need that kind of pitching again today when it hooks up with No. 1 Glenbard North and its ace Lilly Fecho.

Fecho outdueled Burke 1-0 in March, and Glenbard North also eliminated Bartlett in regionals last year.

Those games are still burned in Burke’s memory.

“I’m super excited about playing them again,” Burke said. “I think everybody on the team can say that.”

Burke kept a cool disposition throughout Friday, but her defense perked up her emotions. With a runner at second and one out in the fourth in a 1-0 game, West Chicago’s Amanda Gosbeth shot a single to right. Rachel Odolski came up firing, Kaylyn Zierke blocked the plate and the runner was out at home in a close play.

“Those are the plays that you live for,” said Burke, who also worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth. “We knew that this team was going to come at us, that they always put balls in play.”

Burke and Bartlett brought an end to a magical West Chicago playoff run. The No. 11 seed Wildcats (24-13) upset Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North last week, both wins in their final at-bat. The momentum couldn’t sustain itself after a five-day break.

Five West Chicago errors led to 3 unearned runs, but the Wildcats also made a few dynamite defensive plays. Second baseman Morgan Dastych speared a line drive in the fourth and doubled off a runner, Casey Christ threw a runner out at the plate from left field in the second and Christ later laid out for a diving catch in foul territory.

“(Burke) made some good location pitches and kept us off-balance,” West Chicago coach Kim Wallner said. “It was tough for us to go from a Downers North and their type pitching to this. We had to wait a week to play, which didn’t help us. It would have been nice to keep a rhythm. But you have to give all the credit to their pitcher.”

Bartlett (29-8) broke ahead in the second inning. Holly Pagan singled leading off, and took third when the next batter hit a flyball misplayed. Amanda Montbriand then lined a first-pitch run-scoring single to center.

Montbriand doubled to start the fifth and scored on Steph Tomazin’s pinch-hit single.

The Hawks, who had baserunners in every inning, finally broke it open in the sixth on a walk, error and a two-out, two-run throwing error.

“We felt like we were going to get some chances to score,” Wolfsmith said. “West Chicago is a solid team. You have to hit to beat them.”

West Chicago couldn’t feel badly about its season as a whole. Despite graduating star pitcher Mary Connolly, the Wildcats matched their postseason advancement from a year ago, won one more game and outdid many expectations.

“They kind of made their own niche this year,” Wallner said. “That was kind of one of their goals, to prove themselves to some people. We’re real proud.”