St. Viator rides out storm, Northtown
It's off to a Class 3A regional for St. Viator'softball team.
The No. 4-seeded Lions (18-14) advanced with a win over No. 13 Chicago Northtown Academy.
Lions ace Sam Hogan (14-10) gave up 1 hit with 10 strikeouts and 1 walk as Viator built an 8-0 lead after four innings.
The Pumas were batting in the top of the fifth with one out when the rains hit and the game was postponed. The visitors chose not to return to Arlington Heights at a later date, making it a forfeit win according to the IHSA.
The Lions led 3-0 after 3 pitches.
Cameron VanValkenburg tripled on the first pitch in the bottom of the first.
Krystal Harris then singled her home on the second pitch and Sam Hogan belted her fifth home run of the season on the third pitch of the inning.
The Lions added 2 runs in the third.
Hogan led off with a double.
Kristen Hackel reached base before Gina Mastrodomenico (2 hits, 2 RBI) drove in the Lions' fourth run. Olivia Michalik's sacrifice fly made it 5-0.
The Lions had 9 hits in 4 innings, including a double by VanValkenburg.
The Pumas' first base runner was caught stealing by Lions catcher Martha Hayes and the other was stranded at first.
"The girls came out focused and ready to play," said Lions coach John Scotillo. "They have worked really hard all season to get here. Now we are fortunate to have a few days to practice in preparation for Saturday."
The Lions will play the winner of today's game between No. 5 Antioch and No. 12 Chicago Amundsen on Saturday for the championship at 10 a.m.
At New Trier: The Class 4A semifinal between No. Palatine and No. 1 New Trier was postponed and moved to today at 4:30 p.m.
at Cary-Grove: The Class 4A semifinal between No. 1 Barrington and No. 4 Jacobs was suspended in the bottom of the second inning with no score. The game will be resumed today at 4:30 p.m.
at Rolling Meadows: No. 1 Glenbard North led No. 16 Wheaton North 2-0 when the Class 4A semifinal was suspended until today when it will resume at 4:30 p.m.
The second semifinal between No. 8 Fremd and No. 9 Willowbrook was postponed and moved to 7 p.m. today.
at Carmel: The Class 4A semifinal between No. 2 Libertyville and No. 14 Hersey was suspended with the Huskies leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning. The game will resume today at 4:30 p.m.
at Glenbrook South: No. 3 Lake Zurich is leading No. 15 Glenbrook South 7-0 in a suspended Class 4A semifinal which pushed the back today's originally scheduled semifinal between No. 6 Buffalo Grove and No. 11 Deerfield to Thursday at 4:30 p.m.