Lightning wrap with 7th at USSSA World Series
The Northern Illinois Lightning women's fastpitch softball team closed out the 2010 season last weekend with a seventh-place finish at the USSSA Women's World Series in Rockford.
The Lightning went 3-3 for the weekend and finished the season 23-9, which accounts for one of the best winning percentages in the 11-year history of the program.
"It was a really good summer," said Lightning manager John Radtke. "We had a very dedicated group of young ladies who played some awfully good softball. We registered a lot of quality wins this season and with the majority of the team coming back as well as a couple of top-notch additions we're looking forward to an even better season in 2011."
The Lightning opened pool play with a 7-3 win over the Northlake Chaos as Emily Mahoney and Jessica Dobson combined on a 5-hitter. Megan Hardie was 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while Alex Lagesse, Lauren Ott each drove in runs and Sarah Carlson had a double and an RBI. Jaci Corn, playing in her final season with the Lightning after 7 years on the team, also had an RBI.
A 3-1 loss to the East Peoria Lady Rage followed. Lagesse took the loss, allowing no earned runs. Courtney LaFerle had 2 hits including a double for the Lightning.
Tournament play began with a 5-1 win over a solid Wisconsin Blues team. Lagesse allowed 5 hits and had 7 strikeouts to pick up the win. Sara Strickland was 3-for-3, Lagesse had 2 doubles and 4 RBI and LaFerle drove in a run to lead the offense.
The Lightning then dropped into the loser's bracket with a tough 4-3 loss to the two-time defending national champion Indiana Slammers. Down 3-0 to Indiana's 2009 high school pitcher of the year Jenny Esparaza, the Lightning battled back to tie 3-3 before the Slammers scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth and final inning in the time-limit shortened game. LaFerle, Nikki Schlagel and Corn (2-for-2) each drove in runs in the Lightning's 3-run fifth inning. Dobson was the losing pitcher in relief of Linsday Nauman.
"That was a whale of a comeback," said Radtke, whose team knocked off the Slammers earlier in the summer. "But what it proved to me was that we've turned the corner from last year when we struggled against teams like the Slammers. Last year we would have lost that game 10-0. We've come a long way since then."
The Lightning then eliminated rival Elgin Heat 3-2 when Lagesse drove home Strickland with the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lagesse was also the winning pitcher.
The Minnesota Mudhens eliminated the Lightning 2-1 on Sunday morning. Dobson took the loss and Corn, who had walked, scored the Lightning's only run on a wild pitch. The Lightning was held to just 3 hits in the loss and Dobson scattered 5 hits.
"The Mudhens were a very good team and we might have been a little drained after the tough games with the Slammers and Heat," Radtke said. "But we made it to Sunday, which we didn't do last year, and we had a good season. It's time to take that next step up again next year."
The Bloomington Lady Hearts, another of the elite teams the Lightning beat earlier in the summer, won the World Series championship with the Illinois Chill second, the Indiana Slammers third and the Lady Rage fourth.
Lightning tryouts: The Lightning will hold tryouts for the 2010-11 season on Monday and Tuesday Aug. 8-9 and Saturday and Sunday Aug. 14-15. Tryouts for 14U and 16U will be from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 8-9 and from 9-11 a.m. on Aug. 14-15. For 18U and 18 & over tryouts will be from 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 8-9 and from 12-2 p.m. on Aug. 14-15. For further information call (847) 812-1522, e-mail northernillinoislightning@gmail.com or call (847) 812-1522.