Softball: Hersey rallies from 7 runs down, stuns Prospect

Talk about never giving up.

Down 8-1 going into the sixth inning at Prospect, Hersey's softball team put together a magical half inning with 7 runs and 3 home runs to tie the game at 8-8.

The Knights came back for a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the sixth before Hersey pulled another two runs out of the hat in the top of the seventh and escaped with a 10-9 spell-bounding win in Mt. Prospect.

The win left the Huskies (9-5, 5-2) just a half-game behind Prospect (17-4, 6-2) in the Mid-Suburban East.

"What a game," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "I really can't remember one so amazing, sort of one for the ages. I really loved our energy right when we came off the bus."

The hosts Knights had the energy going from the start, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by Julia Nay's 2-run single to center and bases-loaded walk to Knights pitcher Lina Calvacca.

Hersey's Abby Stonequist drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fourth to make it 4-1 before Prospect answered with 4 more runs in the bottom of the inning.

The Knights got RBI from Gabby Dilan (2-for-2), Gianna Catanzano and Libby McDonough and scored on a first and third double steal.

But keeping their spirits high, the Huskies enjoyed their biggest inning of the season in the top of sixth.

It included Payton Kee's 2-run homer to center, a 3-run blast over the center field fence by Jillian Wandler and a solo shot to center by winning pitcher Gabby Felman, which tied the game at 8-8.

Felman pitched the first three innings and was relieved in the fourth before coming back for the final 3 1/3 innings to earn the dramatic win.

"I think it was all because of my defense and the team spirit," the junior right-hander said. "It was so fun and that just motivated me to win that game. The team spirit and everything just made it 10 times better."

Prospect nudged back ahead 9-8 when Catanzano reached on a one-out infield error scoring Dilan, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth.

But Felman struck out the final two batters to prevent further damage.

Her offense then gave her a pair of runs for the 10-9 lead in the top of the seventh when Kee led off with a single to center. Kee came home when Anna Baroud reached on an infield single and error to tie the game at 9-9 with one out. The Huskies went ahead when Wandler reached on a two-out error allowing Baroud to score.

Felman went back to work on the mound. After a leadoff walk to Abby Kiepura, Felman struck out the next two batters and got a ground out to shortstop Grace Grabowy to end the game.

"Gabby (Felman, now 3-1) is a fierce competitor," Freeman said. "She lives to compete and so does Jillian Wandler. They play multiple sports at Hersey and when they're on the hot seat, they know how to get the job done."

Multiple hitters for Hersey were Wandler (2-for-3, on base three times), Grabowy (2-4, double), Kee (3-4, on base four times) and Baroud (2-4).

"We had a couple of great bunts from Anna Baroud and Payton Kee," Freeman said.

Cleanup hitter Reese Izenstark got robbed twice of extra bases by eye-popping catches from left fielder Libby McDonough, one on a beautiful backpedaling catch just in front of the fence and the second a diving grab to her right.

"Two great catches by Libby," said Prospect coach Krystina Mackowiack who had three players who were called up from the junior varsity playing in the infield at one point due to injuries. "But you've got to hand it to Hersey. They were down 7 runs and had a 7-run inning to get back in it. That's tough but I'm proud of my girls. We fight no matter what. This time it just wasn't enough. But we'll bounce back. We still have the whole second round."

Gina Falls led the Knights on offense, going 3-for-4 with a double

Felman finished with 10 strikeouts.

"We had some kids out due to illness and injuries and we needed other kids to step up and they really did," Freeman said. "Jillian Wandler carried the team on her back and Gabby was just dynamite the way she settled in on the mound.

"We had some things that didn't go our way but Prospect played some great defense. Reese had great at-bats. Grace Grabowy hit a shot right to short. It's really nice to see their competitive spirit and their fight. Prospect is a big rival for us. It was nice to see our girls come out and really dig deep and play with heart."