Softball: Hersey rallies but can’t topple Loyola in sectional semifinals

Putting the ball in play is easier said than done, especially against Loyola’s hard throwing right-hander Hunter Lewis, a Northwestern commit.

Hersey struggled over the first five innings against Lewis, compiling only one hit and never reaching third base Thursday in the Class 4A Stevenson sectional semifinals.

Faced with a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Huskies had reason to doubt themselves, but their seven seniors had worked a whole season instilling belief.

If there’s one thing Hersey junior Gabby Felman learned from her senior teammates, it’s to keep going, to keep playing with joy despite any deficit.

Punctuated by Felman’s RBI single, the Huskies’ smiles grew wider as they compiled three runs against Lewis during the frame. But that was all the production Hersey (19-11) provided, as it went down in order in the seventh and fell to Loyola, 4-3.

Lewis threw a complete game for the Ramblers (17-15), striking out 12 batters and helping herself with a single and home run. Loyola will play Mundelein on Saturday for the sectional title.

“Her biggest strength is her competitive nature,” Loyola coach Leah Herlocker said. “Whether it’s at the plate or on the mound, she’s never going to let someone get the best of her. She just has that mental side that’s really developing.”

Hersey pitchers Felman and Ariya Patel conceded a combined three hits and struck out seven batters.

Jillian Wandler led the Huskies with two hits, including a single that sparked the sixth-inning rally.

During the inning, Wandler advanced to second and scored on a ball to the backstop. Teammate Reese Izenstark added a walk and scored on Felman’s hit. Patel made it a one-run ballgame with an RBI groundout.

“At the beginning of the game, we were looking at a lot of strikes,” Hersey coach Molly Freeman said. “We were taking a lot of strikes and you’re just not going to find a lot of success doing that. I thought we were swinging at more pitches, which is always going to help.”

Freeman said the Huskies made plenty of strides offensively. After a 1-2 start, Hersey won eight of its next 10 games and finished the season with 11 games scoring double-digit runs. For Felman, the group’s bond only grew stronger as the games progressed.

“Overall, it was probably one of my favorite seasons ever,” Felman said. “Even in travel, even in high school. Overall, just the best. We all became a friend group in a way and we were just having fun.”