Liberty captures coveted bid to prestigious national tourney

After already earning bids to the USSSA World Series and ASA Northern Nationals, the Lake County Liberty, 18U girls fast-pitch travel team of the Lake County Fastpitch Softball Association, got the bid it was still looking for.

By virtue of its third-place finish in the highly competitive ASA Chicago Metro Tournament, the Liberty earned a berth at the USA/ASA 18U Class A National Tournament to be played in Moline.

The ASA Chicago Metro Tournament, held in Bourbonnais and boasting a field of 32 of the area's top teams, is considered one of the toughest tournaments in the state.

The Liberty posted a 5-1 record to notch its third nationals bid this year.

Lake County opened the tournament by beating a tough Aurora Raiders squad 2-1. Alex Booker had an RBI triple and scored on a single by Lindsay Callanan.

The Liberty then bested the Crete Quest 8-2 behind the 4-hit pitching of Courtney Ryan. Booker led the offense by going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and 4 RBI. Hannah Karstedt, Callanan and Maggie O'Brien each had 2 hits.

Bracket play began with the Liberty polishing off the Oak Lawn Diamonds 5-4. Emily Ott helped rally the Liberty by belting a grand slam.

The Downers Grove Rebels were the next up for the Liberty. Maddie Riordan sparked another Liberty comeback with a game-tying, two-out, two-strike single.

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kyra Boyer led off with a single and moved to second on a perfectly executed bunt by Jessi Borre. With two out, Callanan ripped a walk-off liner to the gap in right center to give the Liberty a 3-2 win.

The quarterfinal game matched the Liberty against the perennial powerhouse Orland Park Sparks. The Sparks, who had not lost in several weeks, led 1-0 before the Liberty exploded for 5 runs in the third.

Ott threw a 5-hitter in a 5-1 victory.

In the semis, the Liberty jumped on top in the first against the Illinois Outlaws, but fell just short, losing 3-2.

Despite only its second loss all summer, the Liberty finished third at Metro and claimed the prize they wanted by gaining the berth to ASA Nationals, marking the sixth consecutive year they will play in a national tournament.