Lisle has memories of state softball

Kellie Brennan will never forget Lisle’s last trip to the state softball tournament.

The magic of video makes sure of it. Maggie Brennan, Kellie’s older sister, was a senior starter for the 2007 state team.

“We have the whole thing videotaped. It’s a big deal that my family got to see her graduate down at state,” Kellie said. “We watch it sometimes at family gatherings.”

Time to cue up the Brennan family camcorder again.

Brennan and Lisle are back at state for the third time in school history — and first time since 2007.

Lisle (28-4) will meet Morrison (29-7) in today’s first semifinal at 4:30 p.m. at East Peoria’s EastSide Centre.

“All in the Family” could definitely be the soundtrack to this matchup.

Three Lisle players — Brennan, senior Stephanie Petkovsek and sophomore Kristina Fernette — have sisters who played for the 2007 team. On the other side Morrison has two sets of sisters on this year’s team, and catcher Marie Deter is the kniece of coach Tammy Deter.

Maggie Brennan just graduated from Illinois State and — just like Kellie — will get to see her sister play at state. Same with Alison Petkovsek, who is down from Minnesota where she is a sophomore at Bemidji State.

“She told me to definitely take in the moment because you don’t get to experience this ever again,” Stephanie Petkovsek said. “We want to keep playing the way we’ve been playing.”

It is the first time playing in East Peoria for this batch of Lisle girls. But it’s not their first state experience.

Lisle’s talented junior class made it to state with Lisle Junior High as eighth-graders. Expectations for a trip in high school have been high ever since. Lisle came a game short the last two years but broke through with Tuesday’s 6-0 win over Momence.

“We didn’t realize how big of a deal it was,” Brennan said. “Now that we’re here in high school it’s amazing.”

Morrison ended Lisle’s season last year, beating the Lions 3-1 in the supersectional after Lisle won 2-0 during the regular season.

Both teams return the lion’s share of their lineups from last year. For Morrison that includes Christie Wiersema, who is 16-2 with a 0.81 ERA and also leads the team hitting .446 with a team-high 42 runs scored.

Morrison won the Lisle Invite this year but didn’t play Lisle.

“We got to see them in our tournament this year,” said Lisle coach Jen Pomatto said, “so we definitely do know something about them. Our kids know what happened against them last year. They’d like a little revenge.”

Stellar pitching has been a Lisle calling card this year. Bekka Houda and Melanie Early have given up a combined 21 earned runs in 208 innings, and Wisconsin-Whitewater recruit Houda is 21-2 with a 0.68 ERA and 217 strikeouts. Catcher Grace Riley is hitting over .500 and Valparaiso-bound junior third baseman Mackenzie Buchelt has driven in a team-high 36 runs.

“Our kids want to show that there is softball up north,” said Pomatto, whose team represents the only Chicago-area school. “Coal City was able to come in and do some good things the last couple years, and now we are kinda representing north of I-80. We want to show that we deserve to be here.”

Both teams seek a breakthrough at state.

Lisle has gone one-and-done in its two trips to state, in 1994 and 2007. Morrison finished fourth in 2007 and third in 2008 and 2010, losing in the state semifinals in all three years.

“We are all a little nervous, but we’re all confident,” Brennan said. “We feel we’re peaking right now and we want to keep it going.”