Willowbrook can't thwart Downers S.
Junior Megan LoBianco continued her successful formula Tuesday for the undefeated Downers Grove South softball team as the new starting shortstop and No. 3 hitter in the batting order.
"Just coming up, I always make sure to take a deep breath before I go up there, especially with the bases loaded, and just try to carry the team through," LoBianco said.
"This time it definitely helped. It feels good to be able to put in a good number on the board for my team."
The 30-0 Mustangs may have gasped momentarily but soon were breathing easier after pulling away for an 11-2 victory at Willowbrook that completed a second straight 12-0 run through the West Suburban Gold.
LoBianco had three of the Mustangs' first four hits and ended up 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored, a double and 3-run homer to open a 9-2 advantage in the sixth. No. 9 hitter Lindsey Herrmann, Rebekah Ondracek and Zahrya McFarland had 2 hits each and leadoff hitter Kristen Bialek scored three times and stole two bases.
"I've definitely picked it up. This last week actually has been really good for me," said LoBianco, now with eight homers.
"I'm excited. This 30th win was a big, big mark for us. I'm happy we pushed though and especially undefeated in the conference always feels good. We've just got to stick it out."
Willowbrook (20-10, 8-3) tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the first on senior Sam Schmidt's 13th homer of the season after Zoe Dannenberg doubled.
Winning pitcher Payton Buresch (15-0) then struck out the next seven hitters en route to a season-high 14 with no walks and allowed just three singles the rest of the way. Schmidt was 2-for-3.
"(Buresch) had 14? That's great, unbelievable. She pitched really well," Downers South coach Ron Havelka said. "So far so good. We've been doing OK. (The Warriors) were really up. But we came back and won the thing so it was a good game."
Willowbrook has secured its fourth straight 20-win season and was riding an eight-game winning streak that included DuPage Valley Conference champion Naperville Central 4-2 Saturday.
Schmidt's homer accounted for the first runs scored off Downers South after six straight shutouts. The Warriors, however, also committed 7 errors. Four in the third contributed to unearned runs that put the Mustangs ahead 4-2.
"We had been on a streak here for a while, playing really good defense the last two weeks," Willowbrook coach Rachel Karos said. "That was a little disappointing, but they're a good team and we knew that going in. We just wanted to compete a little better than we did."
Downers South has won 10 straight Gold titles and 17 of the last 18. Willowbrook finishes second for the third straight year.
The Mustangs have 13 shutouts (nine in Gold games) and allowed just 8 runs over the past 17 games. They are the No. 1 seed and host of their Class 4A sectional after losing in last year's sectional final.
Catcher Ondracek and center fielder McFarland are the only starting seniors.
"They definitely carry the team. (Ondracek) always is cheering everyone up and (McFarland) is the biggest mouth in the outfield," LoBianco said. "All of our infield is juniors. This is our second or third year together so we all know each other and how to pick each other up."
By contrast, Willowbrook has 12 seniors with three four-year varsity players. The No. 8 seed in the Rolling Meadows sectional, the Warriors probably will have to beat No. 1 seed Schaumburg to claim their first regional title since 1993.
"We've proven a lot in the last four years of what we can be and the best way to go out here is to win a regional title," Karos said. "That would be a really good end of the year gift."