Montmarquette helps Maine West stay on a roll

Brie Montmarquette is looking forward to bowling at Northern Illinois University’s co-recreation program when she gets to DeKalb.

With a 175 average on the lanes, Montmarquette spends a lot of time in bowling leagues when she is not playing softball.

But the senior is also quite talented with a softball bat in her hand.

Playing her final game on the Maine West softball field, Montmarquette came up with the game-winning RBI when she doubled to left center, driving home Renee Pond with one in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Two batters later, with two outs, junior Sadie Argus belted her sixth homer of the season — a 2-run blast to right center — and those 3 runs gave senior ace Ariel Valles a 3-0 shutout over No. 10 Evanston.

The No. 3 Warriors (19-6) will face No. 2 York on Wednesday in the 4:30 semifinal of the Class 4A Resurrection sectional in Chicago.

Valles (12-4) struck out two while tossing a 4-hitter over an Evanston club whose coach Kristen Proffitt was no stranger to the surroundings.

Proffitt was an all-area pitcher for the Warriors, not to mention the first travel coach for many of the Maine West seniors, including Montmarqutte.

“She was my very first coach for the Sparklers when I was 11 years old,” said Montmarquette, a three-year varsity softball player who plans to study kiniseology at Northern. “She was the coach for all our seniors, plus (juniors) Abbey Herling and Erin Ross.”

Pond (2-for-3) started the Warriors’ big inning when she bunted for a hit. The senior outfielder advanced to second on a passed ball. With one out, Montmarquette then delivered her big double.

“I just stayed calm and listened to my coaches,” Montmarquette said. “They kept talking about waiting for your pitch. I did what they said and I l was encouraged by my teammates cheering in the dugout. I was just waiting for the right pitch to drive.”

Gina Larucci also had a double for West, which won its second straight regional under coach Amy Gonzales.