Softball/Scouting Fox Valley Class 3-4A sectionals
Class 4A Cary-Grove sectional
Today’s game: McHenry (24-3) vs. Carmel (18-18), 4:30 p.m.
Thursday’s game: Jacobs (23-14) vs. Hononegah (30-6), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s game: Championship, 11 a.m.
Outlook: This would appear to be a wide open sectional, regardless of the fact McHenry and Hononegah are the conference champions and teams with the best records. Carmel plays a rugged schedule and Jacobs has as many quality wins as any team in northern Illinois, and the Golden Eagles have a healthy senior Katie Kirker back in the circle.
The Golden Eagles are one of those teams that has flown under the radar a little bit this season — a decent but not sparkling record, yet quality wins over teams like Barrington, Leyden and Fremd as well as Saturday’s 1-0 upset of top-seeded Cary-Grove in the Huntley regional final. Kirker (4-1), who beat Barrington and Fremd, threw a 1-hitter in the regional final and appears to be healthy again after battling a season-long groin injury. Jacobs has also gotten quality time in the circle this season from junior left-hander McKayla Lein.
“Anybody could win it,” said Eagles’ coach Jeremy Bauer. “I think we’re kind of the wild card. It depends on how we play defense and if our offense shows up. Our pitching will be there whether it’s Katie or McKayla.”
Jacobs will need production from its top hitters, sophomore Alyssa Lach, senior Maggie Hansen, junior Nicky Chapa and junior Jacquelyn Hengler. Junior Katelynn Woloszyk drove in the only run of the game in the Cary-Grove win, a game Jacobs played with extreme confidence from beginning to end.
“We knew we were the under dog going in but at the same time we were confident we could win. We played with a lot of confidence and we have to continue to do that.”
The Golden Eagles lost to Hononegah 8-5 in the middle game of the Harlem quad on May 12 but that was a far cry from the Jacobs team that will take the field Thursday. Bauer called it “Kirker’s rehab start” and she only pitched 3 innings and the defensive lineup was not Jacobs’ normal nine.
“(Hononegah) scored five unearned runs in that game,” Bauer said. “That was not a good indication of how we can play. But we did get to see their hitters and their No. 1 and 2 pitchers.”
The NIC-10 champion Indians, led by senior pitcher Stevie Atterbury, beat Harlem 9-4 to win the Hononegah regional.
McHenry knocked out Warren in the Warren regional final 6-1 behind a stellar pitching and hitting performance from freshman Kristin Koepke.
Carmel won its own regional 2-0 over Mundelein as Carmel’s Nicole Bitter threw a 1-hitter.
Advancement: The Cary-Grove sectional winner plays the Barrington sectional winner in the Judson University supersectional Monday at 7 p.m.
Class 4A Lake Park sectional
Today’s game: Glenbard North (33-2) vs. York (18-18), 4:30 p.m.
Thursday’s game: Bartlett (28-8) vs. West Chicago (24-12), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s game: Championship, 11 a.m.
Outlook: How far can Lilly Fecho carry Glenbard North? The Panthers’ Purdue-bound senior lefty, 26-2 with an ERA under 1 and also hitting over .400 with 8 homers, is the dominant force in this foursome. Glenbard North, chasing its first sectional title since 2005, knows well all three opponents. The Panthers went 5-0 against the other sectional semifinalists, but three of those games were decided by 1 run. No. 13 seed York and senior ace Tessa Kroll, who is 10-8 with a 1.73 ERA and hitting .356, upset Lake Park and Hinsdale South in regionals. Glenbard North beat York 4-3 in eight innings in a Fecho-Kroll matchup in March. No. 11 seed West Chicago knocked off Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North in regionals, winning both in its last at bat. Amanda Gosbeth is hitting a team-high .372 with 28 runs scored and 24 RBI and Rachel Johnson has driven in 29 for West Chicago. Bartlett, is led by crafty senior pitcher Tori Burke, who is 17-6 and struck out 13 in the Hawks’ regional final win. Sophomore Alex Morales, junior Kaylyn Zierke and Burke have been the catalyst of the Hawks’ offense but several different players delivered in big games for the Upstate Eight Valley co-champs.
“Very few teams should be a surprise to anyone right now,” said Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith. “(West Chicago) beat both Downers Grove teams, they beat Naperville Central and they have Glenbard North a 1-0 game. They’re a very good softball team. Their pitchers throw a lot of off-speed stuff and they rely on their defense, their speed and their big boppers. They put the ball in play a lot, they put a lot of pressure on the defense and they’re aggressive. They play their style of softball.”
Wolfsmith says his team didn’t get overly worried about losing 5 of its last 6 regular season games.
“Look at the teams we lost to,” he said. “Belleville East is gone, Lockport’s gone, Waubonsie Valley’s gone. The only one left is Neuqua (Valley). We played good games. There was no panic. Hopefully we can continue to play well. The ultimate goal is to be standing at the end.”
Advancement: The Lake Park sectional winner plays the Niles West sectional winner in the Rosemont Stadium supersectional Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Class 3A Belvidere North sectional
Today’s game: Kaneland (31-6) vs. Sterling (30-6), 4:30 p.m.
Thursday’s game: Burlington Central (28-8) vs. Marengo (32-5), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s game: Championship, 11 a.m.
Outlook: It’s the type of postseason challenge Burlington Central coach Cray Allen lives for, and he hopes his team will as well. The Rockets get a third shot at Big Northern East champ and defending state champ Marengo, this time with postseason advancement on the line. Marengo beat BC 2-1 and 11-7 during the season.
“If one of these Rocket players is not appreciative of the opportunity in front of them they shouldn’t be there,” said Allen, whose team won a wild 19-18 decision over DeKalb to claim the BC regional title. “I think we’re playing a ton better than when we played them that week (April 10 and April 12). We’re definitely mentally tougher.”
After those two losses to Marengo, the Rockets went on a 13-game winning streak that didn’t end until they split a doubleheader with defending 4A champ Moline, and they haven’t lost since. Led by the offense of seniors Haley Albamonte (Indiana State), Emily Bell (North Dakota) and Sarah Kisch (Millikin), along with sophomore Bekah Harnish and the steady pitching of sophomore Brooke Gaylord and freshman Angie Morrow, both also good hitters, Allen has his team playing with confidence going into Thursday’s game. But the BC coach knows the key to beating Marengo is putting the ball in play against senior standout Linsday Melson (22-5), who is signed with UIC. She struck out 15 Rockets in the Indians’ 2-1 win.
“We’re going to have to put the ball in play every single at-bat,” Allen said. “We had 15 Ks in the first game and they scored their runs on an error and a passed ball. The second game our approach was much better and we hit the ball. Unfortunately they were on hitting that day too. We’ll just go up there disciplined and put some good swings on it and see what happens.”
Kaneland won the IMSA regional, downing Yorkville 9-5 in the title game while Sterling rolled to a 10-0 win over Rochelle in the Freeport regional final. Kaneland’s Delani Vest has been a model of consistency all season in the circle and Sterling’s Stephanie Kester (24-6) recorded her 50th career win for the Golden Warriors in the regional final.
Advancement: The Belvidere North sectional winner plays the Lakes sectional winner in the NIU supersectional on Monday at 5 p.m.
Joshua Welge contributed to this report