West Chicago charges into sectional final
Mary Connolly doesn't need much run support the way she's throwing.
West Chicago gave her more than enough Thursday.
The No. 3 seed Wildcats scored 6 runs over the first three innings against No. 15 York, and Connolly struck out nine in a 6-1 win in the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional semifinals.
"I couldn't ask for anything better," Connolly said. "We came out hitting. It was a great team win. You can't ask for more comfort than 6 runs."
West Chicago (27-9), back in the sectional final for the second time in three years, will go for the school's first sectional championship at 11 a.m. Saturday against top seed Elk Grove.
"Just the thought of it, everyone on the team is so excited," Connolly said. "We're going to come out and throw our best game at them and see what happens."
Elk Grove, whose pitching tandem of Stephanie Maday and Dani Goranson no-hit Geneva Wednesday, will undoubtedly be West Chicago's toughest playoff test thus far after three wins over double-digit seeds.
"We'll be cranking that (pitching) machine up in practice a little bit tomorrow," West Chicago coach Emily Johnson said. "But we didn't take (York) lightly."
Wildcats senior Kaity Olson, moved back up to third in the lineup, sparked two West Chicago rallies. She singled with two outs in the first, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored as Rachel Johnson beat out an infield chopper.
Bunt singles by Jessica Wood and Taylor Kutilek, and a York throwing error, made it 2-0 in the second. Olson's leadoff single started a 4-run third, giving Connolly a sizeable cushion to work with.
"I was at the top of the order at the beginning of the year," Olson said, "then I moved down to the bottom and now I'm back toward the top again. I like the three hole. I feel like it's my home. I'm more comfortable up there and feel I can do my best job up there."
"The girls were more aggressive today on the basepaths than they've been all year long," Johnson said. "Hopefully, we can keep that momentum going into Saturday's game."
Connolly (24-7) allowed just 5 hits and 1 walk, running her playoff scoreless streak to 201/3 innings before Tessa Kroll's one-out RBI single in the seventh. It was Connolly's first earned run allowed in four starts since May 18.
"Her inside fastball was the best today," Olson said. "She threw hard and hit her spots."
Kroll went 2-for-3 for York (20-18), which saw its surprising postseason run come to an end. The Dukes stunned No. 2 St. Charles North and then beat Wheaton North in regionals.
"Obviously, those were two very good teams we beat," York senior Charlene Osmanski said. "Losing to them earlier in the season probably fueled those wins a little bit. The girls did a fabulous job in the playoffs.
"We weren't as solid defensively today and we could have hit better. But she's just a very good pitcher."
Lockport 3, Downers Grove North 0: The No. 3 seed Porters took advantage of 4 Trojans errors to score 3 unearned runs at the Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional. Kendall Ryndak (14-7) struck out three for No. 2 Downers Grove North (28-9), which left eight runners on base.