Noland in right places at right times for Hilltoppers
It was only fitting that with the game on the line, Elk Grove's Stephanie Dolce ripped a solid liner to Glenbard West right fielder Melissa Noland.
After all, in a similar crucial situation earlier in Saturday's Class 4A regional title game at Willowbrook, the roles were reversed. In that first scenario Noland laced a 2-run triple over the head of Grenadiers right fielder Jessica Balzano to break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning.
This time around, Noland made the catch to complete her team's 2-0 win over third-seeded Elk Grove (30-6) and earn a berth in the Class 4A Schaumburg sectional on Wednesday afternoon.
"I was like, 'Hold on to it. Do not think about dropping that,' " Noland said of the game's final out, which came with two Elk Grove runners in scoring position.
The Grens had plenty of chances off Hilltoppers hurlers Lauren Albrecht and Cassie Goggin but failed to deliver timely hits. Glenbard West's defense had a lot to do with it, as first baseman Flynn Moroni saved 2 runs in the third inning when she robbed Amy Charewicz on a hard grounder ticketed for right field with the bases loaded and two outs.
"That was a big play and we hit a smash," Elk Grove coach Ken Grams said. "We stranded all those runners, but we hit the ball hard. What can you do?"
Albrecht (13-2) started and worked the first three innings for the Hilltoppers (22-6) but had to work her way out of Elk Grove threats in each inning. Nikki Goranson got a 2-out double in the first but was stranded when Dolce grounded out.
Elk Grove then had two on and none out in the second but failed to get as far as third base. When Albrecht survived the bases-loaded scare in the bottom of the third, No. 6 seed Glenbard West delivered in the fourth with what proved to be the difference.
Kristy Borneman led off with a single, which was the first hit allowed by Elk Grove's tough-luck pitcher Stephanie Maday (19-5). Jayme Hefler then reached on an error when her sacrifice bunt went through the legs of a Grenadiers infielder. After No. 3 hitter Kathyrn Lux sacrificed the runners over with a nice bunt, Noland drove home the game's only runs with her shot to right.
"I felt real good today," said Noland, who lined out hard to second base her first time up. "I saw it just get over her glove and I just kept on running for that triple. It's my senior year and it's so nice to be regional champs."
Goggin has gotten used to her defense backing her up this season.
"It got a little nervous," she said of the Grens' 2-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. "I just wanted to focus on the hitter and I knew the defense could make that play. They had been doing that all day."