No deal as Glenbard South falls short of title

Opportunity knocked for Glenbard South like a persistent salesman bearing gifts, but the door is still shut on the state championship game.

The Raiders were unable to take advantage of 8 Chatham Glenwood errors in a 4-2 loss at the Class 3A state softball semifinals on Friday at East Peoria's EastSide Centre.

Glenbard South (24-13) settles for playing in the third-place game for the second straight year. The Raiders play Burlington Central at 9:30 a.m. today. Burlington Central and Oak Forest combined for 8 errors in the first semifinal for a two-game total of 18.

"We didn't capitalize on them," Raiders coach Julie Fonda said. "It tastes good to get kids on base, but you still have to get them over and get them in."

Twice Glenbard South loaded the bases on Chatham Glenwood errors without scoring. The second time came in the bottom of the seventh, when Carrie Asselmeier, Jenny Wittenberg and Kristin Grossman reached with one out with the Raiders trailing 4-2. But Titans pitcher Sarah Garrison (24-4), who had just 1 strikeout all game, retired the last two batters.

"Any team that's down here is a great team," Fonda said. "They're going to do the little things and get themselves out of tough spots."

Chatham Glenwood (28-8) scored twice in the top of the seventh to snap a 2-2 tie.

Alyssa Esperum, who struck out the first three at-bats versus Raiders pitcher Jess Wilkes, poked a 2-strike double to bring in the go-ahead run. Kaitlyn England's sacrifice fly made it 4-2.

Chatham Glenwood scored runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 2-0 lead, but Glenbard South answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Amanda Straka and Lauren Podgorski singled to start things, and Brianna Meath reached on a bunt single with Straka scoring on a wild throw to first. Wittenberg's ground out brought in Podgorski to make it 2-2. Grossman hit a grounder to third, but Meath was called out on a close play at the plate that Fonda disputed vehemently.

Meath was lost to an ankle injury on the play.

"I saw her get under the tag," Fonda said, "and I saw the catcher not give her an inch of the plate. That's two faults. The catcher has to give her the plate. They can't just stand on the plate unless they have the ball in their hand. He told me that her foot was on the baseline."

Podgorski went 2-for-3 and Wilkes (14-6) struck out nine for Glenbard South, back at state after a 1-8 start. The Raiders took third last year.

"Fonda gave us the same speech she gave us last year," Podgorski said. "Only the first-place teams and third-place teams can end their season with a win. I just told the girls 'It might not seem like it now, but third place feels just as sweet as first place.' We're looking to do the same thing."