Sequoits prevail over Bears in marathon

To call the North Suburban Conference softball championship a defensive struggle or a pitcher's duel Thursday afternoon would be a major understatement.

But after playing for 15 innings and 31/2 hours, visiting Antioch captured the NSC crown by toppling Lake Zurich 2-0 in the marathon contest.

Both teams had plenty of chances to score at least once before the 15th inning, but a one-out single by Antioch's Hannah Vandevoorde started what proved to be the Sequoits' winning rally.

Cat Dinklenburg followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second, before a single by Lauren Moore loaded the bases.

A suicide squeeze bunt by Jessie Liszka drove in Vandevoorde with what proved to be the winning run before a bases-loaded walk by No. 9 hitter Jen Precht gave the Sequoits (28-2) an insurance run.

Sophomore Olivia Duehr had 20 strikeouts while allowing 7 hits in throwing the shutout, as the Sequoits earned their second NSC softball crown in school history.

"I came out with the mentality that this was the same as every other game, but you have to keep your head in the game for the whole 15 innings," Duehr said. "Knowing that my teammates are behind me is what won this game, and I know I have my defense behind me."

The Sequoits collected 12 hits against Bears sophomore pitcher Megan Mattera, who struck out a dozen.

The Bears (26-6) had a good scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth when Mattera broke up Duehr's no-hitter with a one-out single to left field.

An infield hit by Kyra Boyer put runners on first and second, but Duehr struck out the next two batters to retire the side.

"It took 15 innings to beat us, and Antioch is a great team," said Bears coach Becky Lewandowski. "Megan did a great job for a sophomore pitching 15 innings, but we lost the game because of pitch selection and we weren't swinging at strikes."

The Bears' Tabbetha Bohac had a two-out double to left in the bottom of the 11th, but she was left stranded.

The Sequoits' Samie Seamon hit a one-out ground-rule double to center in the top of the 14th, and she may have had a triple if the ball didn't roll under the fence. Moore and Allie Anttila also had doubles for the Sequiots.

"We've done a great job all year of getting girls on base, but Megan (Mattera) did a phenomenal job of bearing down when we got people on base," said Sequoits coach Jeff Tylka. "We were picked to take third in our division, so to beat the two-time defending champs, we must be going in the right direction."

Even the bottom of the 15th had some drama for Antioch, as singles by Mattera (3-for-6) and Boyer put runners on first and second with one out.

Then Alex Block grounded back to the mound, and Duehr threw to first base instead of third to put runners on second and third with two outs.

But Duehr got the final batter to ground out to first base to end the game.

The Bears had left two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh. Kelli Blume had an infield hit and Mattera reached on error, but they were left stranded when Duehr struck out the next two batters.

After seven innings, the game was played under international rules for two innings, with a baserunner being put on second base to start the inning with no outs. By mutual agreement, the teams did not use the international rules after nine innings.

The Sequiots appeared to score a run in the top of the eighth when Seamon bunted over Jen Precht from second to third, before Mattera threw wildly to first to bring home Seamon on the play. But the home plate umpire called the ball foul and Precht was sent back to second, and the scoring opportunity did not materialize.