Scouting the Class 3A softball semifinals
Glenbard South (35-4) vs. Mattoon (35-3)
Time: Noon, Friday.
Where: Eastside Centre Complex, East Peoria.
How they got here: Glenbard South beat Queen of Peace 12-0 to win the Queen of Peace regional, defeated Nazareth 3-0 and St. Francis 7-1 to win the Glenbard South sectional, then downed Elmwood Park 5-3 at the Elgin supersectional. Mattoon beat Salem 13-2 and Charleston 7-0 to win the Salem regional, defeated Belleville Althoff 8-0 and Centralia 9-0 to win the Effingham sectional, then downed Normal Community West 9-8 at the Mattoon supersectional.
State history: This is Glenbard South's fifth trip to the state tournament. The Raiders lost in the 2003 Class AA quarterfinals, took third place in Class 3A in 2008, fourth place in 2009 and third place in 2011. Glenbard South has never advanced past the state semifinals. This is Mattoon's second state appearance, taking second in 2008.
Outlook: In a respect things have come full circle for the Raiders. This is Glenbard South's fourth berth in the Class 3A semifinals since 2008 — but the Raiders still seek their first semifinal win. The 2008 game against Mattoon, the first of three semifinal losses, might be the most memorable and heartbreaking. Glenbard South led 5-0 after an inning on the strength of a grand slam by Jill Trzaska — older sister of current Raiders catcher Jane — only to lose 6-5 as Mattoon scored 4 runs in the seventh inning, hurt by a controversial call. “It's a different feel this time, but it is kind of coincidental,” Raiders coach Julie Fonda said. “There were some calls that could have gone either way, which haunt you a little, but you get over it. Each year is a different year.”
If Glenbard South is to win its first state championship, this would seem to be the team to do it. Six of the Raiders' seven seniors played on last year's state team, led by four-year starters Danielle Chitkowski and Brianna Meath. Senior center fielder Hannah Davey and Jane Trzaska are other big hitters in a relentless, aggressive lineup that hasn't been shut out this year. Chitkowski and younger sister Stephanie are a nice tag team on the mound, with 10 shutouts. “We're in a great situation,” Fonda said. “I wholeheartedly believe that if we play our game this weekend we'll win ballgames. The experience we have is irreplaceable.” Mattoon starts just one senior, lefty outfielder Kayla Jacobs. Similar to the 2008 semifinal, Mattoon overcame an early 4-0 hole to beat Normal on Monday. Junior lefty Kacey Starwalt is Mattoon's ace, with a 23-3 record, 1.24 ERA and 175 strikeouts, and also is hitting .547 with 38 RBI. Two sophomores to watch are catcher Kaitlyn Bath and third baseman Riley Phipps. Glenbard South was ranked No. 1 in the final Illinois Coaches Association statewide poll, Mattoon No. 8 with fellow semifinalist Marengo No. 6. “The girls, they have a one-track mind,” Fonda said. “I'm not the type of person that is cocky, but they will be disappointed with anything less than first place.”
Advancement: The winner will play for the state championship at noon Saturday against the winner of the Marengo-Providence semifinal. The losers meet at 9:30 a.m. for third place.
Inside Marengo vs. Providence: Marengo (35-5) seeks to become the first large-school state champion to repeat since Thornwood in 1990-91. The Indians are 12-0 since losing to Glenbard South 10-3 and to 4A semifinalist Elk Grove 8-1 in a nine-day span. UIC recruit Lindsay Melson, who has driven in a team-high 37 runs, is 25-5 with a 1.28 ERA and 286 strikeouts — but didn't make it out of the third inning in an April meeting with Glenbard South. Providence (28-12), making its first state softball appearance, is led by junior Amanda Wilson, hitting .476 with 23 doubles and 30 RBI.
Inside Bartlett vs. Moline: Moline (30-10), which beat St. Charles North 9-8 in last year's wild 4A final, is after its seventh state championship — which would tie Casey-Westfield for most in IHSA history. The Maroons, who needed a pair of runs in the seventh to beat Plainfield Central in Monday's supersectional, have hit 34 homers this season. Senior shortstop Brittny Drish, who hit a grand slam in last year's 4A final and an inside-the-park homer in the supersectional, is batting .496 with 6 homers, 12 doubles, 5 triples and 37 RBI and is one of four Maroons starters committed to Illinois State. Bartlett (31-8) is making its first state appearance since losing to Downers Grove South in the 2007 Class AA quarterfinals. Hawks pitcher Tori Burke, 20-6 with a 1.10 ERA, has allowed just 2 runs over five playoff games.
Inside Elk Grove vs. Marist: Hard to believe, but Elk Grove (31-8) is making just its third state appearance in legendary coach Ken Grams' 32-year, 778-win career — but second in three years after taking third in 2010. Hard-throwing Michigan State-bound senior Dani Goranson is 25-7 with a 1.41 ERA and 284 strikeouts, and hitting .487 with 10 homers. Marist (25-15), making its first state trip, has won 10 straight since sitting at 15-15 on May 10. Sophomore Brooke Wyderski, an outstanding defensive shortstop, is hitting .377 with 10 homers and 41 RBI.