Maine West 2, Lane Tech 0
When Maine West catcher Michelle Braun came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on second and third in Thursday's Class 4A Glenbrook South softball sectional semifinal against Lane Tech, she couldn't help but reflect on the fourth inning.
She was up in a similar situation, but couldn't break the deadlock as she went down swinging.
"I tried not to think about it," Braun said. "Every at-bat is a new at-bat, and I just wanted to put the ball in play."
Braun did a lot more than just put the bat on the ball. The senior rapped a sharp single that drove home Caryn McGinley and Kaleigh McGing and give Maine West a 2-0 victory in Glenview.
Emily Ott (19-4) went 7 innings and gave up only 1 hit, a single to right by Lane pitcher Jazzy Camacho. Ott's 19th win set the single-season school record for pitching wins at Maine West breaking for the former mark of 18 set by Robin Petersen.
The Warriors also set a school record with their 16th shutout this spring and advanced to Saturday's 10 a.m. sectional championship against No. 4 New Trier.
"I had a lot of confidence in my defense," Ott said. "They kept us in the game, and then our offense came through."
Lane's best chance came in the top of the second. The Indians put runners on second and third with one out after a walk and an error, but Ott struck out the next two batters to end the uprising.
No. 2 seed Maine West (26-7) threatened in the second, drawing 3 walks, and in the fourth after a walk and single by McGing. But the Warriors couldn't break through.
"We were putting pressure on them, that's for sure," said coach Mike Murin, who has guided the Warriors to six straight 20-win seasons.
McGinley and McGing walked to open the Warriors' sixth, and after a sacrifice bunt by Margo Ehorn, Braun tried to squeeze a run home but fouled the bunt attempt off for strike two.
"At that point," said Braun, "I was just trying to stay alive."
With the count 0-2, the senior hammered a fastball for a base hit up the middle that just got past Camacho and into center field -- and at first McGinley didn't see it get through.
"I thought they were going to throw home," said McGinley, "then I turned around and saw Kaleigh right behind me."
"That (base hit) was a big relief off my shoulders," said Ott.
Ott struck out 10 in the victory. Jenna Depa had the Warriors' only other hit, a single to left-center to open the third.
"We had our chances (early)," Murin said. "Finally Michelle shot one up the middle, and that broke open the gates."