Healing day for St. Viator’s Hogan, Wauconda

Monday was a day of healing. Physically for St. Viator pitcher Sam Hogan. Mentally for Wauconda’s softball team.

Eight days after taking a line drive off her pitching hand during batting practice, Hogan was a hero. The sophomore right-hander allowed only 3 hits — all to Wauconda starting pitcher Lauren Thomas — as fifth-seeded St. Viator captured a 5-1 win over the host school and No. 4 seed in the teams’ Class 3A regional play-in Monday.

“We pulled together,” said Hogan, who aided her own cause by going 2-for-5 with 2 doubles from the leadoff spot. “Usually we have a one-inning slump, and that did not happen.”

While St. Viator improved to 12-24 and earned a berth in today’s 4:30 p.m. semifinal against regional top-seed Prairie Ridge at Wauconda, Wauconda finished its season with a 13-23 mark.

“It’s been a very emotional week,” Bulldogs junior third baseman Alex Kinnamon said.

“A lot of drama,” said Thomas, who pitched credibly over 4 innings in her final high school game.

The weekend culminated for Wauconda with two unhappy players choosing to leave the team. Last month, head coach Tim Rennels’ father, who had been terminally ill for 18 months, passed away. Rennels was away from the team often while tending to his father.

“I let the team down this year,” Rennels said. “I really admire how they fought through (the last few days).”

St. Viator came ready to play, too. Krystal Harris, Lauren Prazuch and Michelle Presslak each singled in the top of the first in helping the Lions grab a 1-0 lead. The run scored thanks to an error on Prazuch’s single.

Thomas walked Prazuch and Gina Mastrodomenico to start the third. Presslak’s RBI groundout made it 2-0, before Tess Kaiser blooped an RBI double down the right-field line.

Thomas should have been out of the fifth inning when she got Erika Kreiner to pop up with two out and none on. But no Wauconda infielder called for the ball, which dropped in the circle for a base hit. After Colleen Dunne bunted for a single, Hogan lined a double that bounced hard off the fence in left, scoring both base runners and ending Thomas’ day in the circle.

“She gave it her all,” Rennels said of his senior, Thomas. “All the girls did.”

On the previous pitch, Hogan’s long flyball down the right-field line landed inches foul.

“When I rounded first, I was like, ‘Ah, c’mon!’ ” Hogan said. “But the second one was much better.”

When she stepped on the pitching rubber, Hogan was equally impressive. Thomas was Wauconda’s only offense, singling in the second, fourth and sixth innings. Her last hit scored Kennedy Wright, who had started the inning by reaching on the only walk Hogan allowed.

“I’ve had games where I would strike out at least once a game,” Thomas said. “Going 3-for-3 was really pleasant, especially with it being my last game.”

When Hogan got hurt in a practice on Mother’s Day, it was feared she fractured three knuckles on her right hand. No one would have guessed it with the way she threw against Wauconda.

She was in command all game.

“She’s progressively getting better and better,” St. Viator coach Dan Twarog said. “We’re really happy we got her back to where she needed to be. She’s a hardworking kid.”

Hogan, Harris, and Dunne each had 2 hits for the Lions. Hogan retired the last five batters she faced after Thomas’ run-scoring single in the sixth.

Wauconda at least had no regrets about its effort.

“We pulled it together today — a lot better than I thought we would,” Kinnamon said. “I give credit to all the players on the team.”