Talbot, Downers South knock out Neuqua

Considering the comeback she's had this season, Katie Talbot isn't prone to focus on one pitch from the past.

She's pitching too well in the present.

The Downers Grove South senior struck out four in a 4-hit shutout, leading the No. 1 seed Mustangs past No. 4 Neuqua 4-0 in Wednesday's Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional semifinals.

Talbot (23-2) gave up a walk-off homer to Neuqua's Leigh Nebendahl in an April loss in Naperville. Thoughts of that game didn't affect Talbot in the rematch.

"If I remember correctly I only got two innings (of relief) in that game," Talbot said, "and I pitched pretty well except for that last hit obviously. But I wasn't worried about that last hit at all.

"Each game you have to refocus. It's a new game and you have to trust your abilities."

Talbot missed all of her junior year with a stress fracture in the ulna in her pitching arm. Her return this spring is a big reason why Downers Grove South (29-6) is back in the sectional final, where on Saturday it will play either Lockport or Downers Grove North.

"I didn't know at this time last year if I'd ever be able to pitch again," said Talbot, who threw her ninth shutout Wednesday. "Being able to get back into it and having the great team behind me and to do as well as I have, it's really amazing.

"I remember in the fall I couldn't go full games. My arm would get tired. Coach did a good job making me pitch more and more and my strength improved. I'm at the point now where I don't even notice it, feel it or think about it."

Talbot made effective use of her changeup Wednesday, throwing it first pitch against Nebendahl and relying on it to keep Neuqua's other big hitters off stride.

After allowing a one-out single to Chelsea Mueller in the first, Talbot retired 13 straight batters until Corinne Sheley's two-out double in the fifth.

"We were making contact," Neuqua coach Elaina Tanaka said, "but we weren't making great contact."

Neuqua (25-11) only had two runners reach second base and the second was doubled off on an inning-ending liner to Mustangs second baseman Dana Gawel in the sixth.

"Katie just pitches with a lot of confidence right now," Downers Grove South coach Ron Havelka said, "and our kids are playing well behind her."

While Downers Grove South played error-free behind Talbot, a few Neuqua miscues were the Wildcats' undoing.

Downers Grove South loaded the bases in the first, Michelle Lisy and Katie LaCivita singling with two out and Gawel walking. Jenny Nichols then hit an infield grounder that was booted, scoring a pair of runs.

In the sixth Nichols singled and scored on three wild pitches.

"We made some mistakes, they capitalized on them and we couldn't catch up," Downers Grove South graduate Tanaka said. "It's disappointing but Downers Grove South is a great team and close to my heart personally. If we were going to go down to any team, I'm glad it was them."

Marissa Mersch singled in Downers Grove South's fourth run. Mersch went 2-for-4, giving her 74 hits on the season for sixth all-time in IHSA history.