Valles, Maine West eliminate Lane Tech

Over the past four seasons, the Maine West and Lane Tech softball teams have consistently played some dramatic, down-to-the-wire games.

"We've had some instant classics," said Lane Tech third-year coach George Stavrakas. "We always have great battles with Maine West."

But a freshman pitcher made sure Wednesday's Class 4A Maine West regional semifinal was not going to follow suit.

Warriors rookie Ariel Valles fired a 3-hitter with a career-high 15 strikeouts to shut out No. 8 seeded Lane Tech 9-0 and put the No. 9 Warriors (12-20) into Saturday's championship game against top-seeded New Trier.

Valles (9-7) tossed her gem with her cousin Emily Ott watching.

Ott, who had a fine season with the University of Missouri-Kansas this spring, holds the Maine West single-game strikeout record of 20. Former Warriors shortstop Jenna Depa was also in the crowd.

"It's nice to see the girls who played for us come back and watch," said Maine West coach Mike Murin, whose team snapped an eight-game losing streak. "It's great when you get the school behind you. Our whole freshman team was here watching, too, supporting Ariel."

Valles got great offensive support in the first two innings when West jumped ahead 8-0.

Senior Alli Ellwood belted a 2-run double in the first inning, scoring Valles and sophomore Katie Fitzgerald.

The Warriors added 6 in the second, highlighted by 2-run doubles from Fitzgerald and junior Katherine Kusner.

Senior Michelle Marlega drew a bases-loaded walk in the inning and Valles had a suicide squeeze bunt to bring home junior Nicole Mavraganis.

Stavrakas replaced starter Jackie Manrique with reliever Kaleigh Ambrose for the final 5 innings.

Fitzgerald ended up 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and capped the scoring with her second homer run of the season, a towering solo bast over the center-field fence to lead off the top of the seventh.

"The pitch was in the zone and I just swung at it," said Fitzgerald, who caught Valles' gem.

"My drop ball was my best pitch," Valles said. "It's a lot easier to pitch when you get those runs early. You know if you give up a hit, you don't have to worry that much.

"We have to keep playing like this. We need a lot of good defense and good hitting to continue."

Stavrakas was quite impressed by Valles.

"She has a nice arm," he said. "To be a freshman on this stage, I give her all the credit. And I give all the credit to Mike (Murin) who always gets the maximum talent from his kids every season. For him to have a freshman ready to go in a game like this, that says it all."

Valles' first eight outs were strikeouts. She also struck out the side in the sixth, then got a fly to left fielder Kim Morales, a grounder back to the mound and popup to second baseman Angela Cruz to end the game.