Softball: Barrington’s back in familiar territory — at state tourney trying to bring home championship

As he ran his team through practice drills the day after winning the Class 4A supersectional Monday, Barrington coach Perry Peterson stopped in the middle of the action and explained to his team that anything can happen downstate on any play.

No one knows that better than Peterson who has taken 12 teams to the state finals since his first season in 1993.

This time, the Fillies (34-3-1) are hoping to have one of their best finishes in the final four.

They've already captured four fourth-place, four third-place and a pair of runner-up trophies.

Lockport (31-9) will be the Fillies' first test in Peoria on Friday in the 3 p.m. semifinal at the Louisville Slugger in Peoria.

The 5:30 p.m. semifinal features Oswego (36-2) and Oak Park-Forest (29-8).

The Fillies, No.7 in the final Class 4A state poll, have already dropped a 3-2 decision at No. 4 Lockport on May 24.

In that game, Ohio State-bound senior catcher Reese Cullen belted a fourth-inning home run which gave the Fillies a 2-0 lead. They previously scored in the third inning on a triple by Nina Brebach and a one-out sacrifice fly by Mimi Cline before giving up 3 runs in the fifth inning.

"We only made one error last time and that one error turned out to be a costly play," Peterson said. "So we are looking to have each of the nine kids on the field just do their jobs. Make the simple plays and the more difficult plays will be few and far between. That confidence defensively will help us produce in the batter's box as well."

The last time Barrington played Lockport before this season was also in a state playoff semifinal game in 2004.

The Fillies lost 9-0 to the Porters and star first baseman Samantha Findlay, who would go on to national fame at Michigan. As a freshman in Ann Arbor, Findlay belted a 3-run homer in the 10th inning to clinch the 2005 Women's College World Series over UCLA.

"I remember our 2004 semifinal loss to Lockport (in East Peoria) vividly," Peterson said. "And I remember what we've got to do to be more effective than we were in that game in which she (Findlay) also homered."

Peterson's current Fillies know something about home runs having belted 51 this season, led by Cullen's 15. The school team record is 78 in 2022.

Leadoff batter and senior centerfielder Cline has 14 followed by junior pitcher Katie Taraschewsky (8), senior shortstop Shannon Kenney (5), sophomore first baseman Harlow Engel (5) and sophomore second baseman Shaylee Hiser (4). Senior Finley Hiser, junior Ava Glosny and junior Lilly Goshe each have one.

Cullen's .513 batting average leads the team followed by Cline (.504), junior left fielder Brebach (.500) and sophomore third baseman Liana Maggio (.471)

Five current Fillies were on the 2023 team that took fourth in the state. Cline (centerfield) and Cullen (third base) were starters. Brebach was a pinch runner.

Taraschewsky was the backup pitcher to the Daily Herald’s Cook County All-Area captain Allie Goodwin, and Kenney was a reserve.

"I am so excited for this year's group of girls to get a chance to shine on this biggest stage," said Peterson, the third-winningest coach in IHSA softball history with a record of 1,005-218-1 in 34 seasons. "They've done so many things right all season long, just with their inner workings of developing how to be a good team and a good teammate, that they deserve the opportunity to see where it takes them this weekend, and they're all in to make it happen."

While the Fillies own the home run power, Lockport features strikeout power.

Colgate University pledge, senior Kelcie McGraw (21-5, 1.98 ERA, 279 strikeouts), and junior Bridget Faut (10-4, 1.45 ERA, 118 strikeouts), have combined for 397 strikeouts in 254 innings.

Offensively, the Porters have only 7 home runs and are led by junior outfielder Taylor Lane (.425, 13 doubles, 27 RBI), senior outfielder Rheanna Slavicek (Olivet-Nazarene recruit, .398, 3 home runs) and senior catcher Liliana Janeczko (Western Michigan recruit, .328, 27 RBI).

Porters coach Marissa Chovanec has been in charge for 23 seasons, sporting a 601-200-2 record, including a state title in 2004.

Lockport had 9 hits in the May 24 encounter with the Fillies, who had five.

"There are some hitters I think we'll definitely attack a little differently," said Taraschewsky, who owns a 30-3-1 record with 142 strikeouts, 22 walks and a 1.99 ERA. "Honestly, we'll just kind of do what we did last time and try to get ahead like we did.

"This time, we want to make it to the state championship game and we feel we are capable of doing that if we play the way we normally do: be focused the whole time and not let anything distract us."

As usual, Cullen will be behind the plate. Lockport did not attempt to steal on her in the first meeting.

"Katie and I just have to keep working together like we have been and I think we can win this time," Cullen said. "We learned in that first game with Lockport that we just have to be more disciplined in the batter's box, just keep it simple, stay calm, get a rally going and just work as a team."

Peterson says he runs a pitching/defense-first program.

"So we've had a great season offensively, too," said Peterson, whose team has scored 395 runs this spring, tied for second most in program history behind the 2022 Fillies who crossed the plate 442 times. "But getting it done at state is a whole different thing. We'll be ready on Friday to go after it."

"Everyone is so excited just knowing we have another opportunity to play together as a team," Cullen added. "And that we are guaranteed two more games together. We are just going to give it our all."

Oswego vs. Oak Park-River Forest: Oswego, ranked No. 3 in the state poll, has the best record for the four teams in the final four. The Panthers (36-2) are led on the mound by junior Jaelynn Anthony (20-1, 179 strikeouts. 1.60 ERA ) and senior Aubriella Garza (13-1, 86 strikeouts, 1.31). Top hitters are senior catcher Kiyah Chavez (.542, 11 homers, 19 doubles, 60 RBI), Anthony (.477, 13 homers, 14 doubles, 54 RBI), freshman Adalynn Fugitt (.471, 11 RBI) and Garza (.431, 13 homers, 13 doubles, 53 RBI).

Oswego coach Paul Netzel owns an 88-24 record in his four seasons, including a third-place finish in the 2024 state finals.

OP-RF, ranked No. 23 in the state, is led on the mound by Anna Topel (9-0, 46 strikeouts, 1.78 ERA), Molly Chambers (12-2, 24 strikeouts, 4.49 ERA) and Carolyn Rainey (6-3, 66 strikeouts, 4.92 ERA).

The Huskies' offensive leaders are senior third baseman Gloria Hronek (.473, 14 doubles, 3 triples 1 homer), senior center fielder Maura Carmody (.518, 59 RBI, 14 doubles, 49 runs, 11 homers), senior shortstop Elysa Hasapis (.595, 18 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers) and junior 2B-1B Julia Henderson (.402, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers).

Coach JP Coughlin owns a 98-42 record in four seasons, including a third-place finish in the 2023 state tourney.