Heck, yes: Wauconda's still playing

Call that a heck of a finish for Jena Heck.

Not that the Wauconda senior's softball season is over.

Not after her two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the top-seeded Bulldogs to a 1-0 win over No. 2 Grayslake Central in Saturday's Class 3A sectional final at Ridgewood.

"She hurt her back a few weeks ago," coach Tim Rennels said.

Heck wasn't about to sit out. Not after missing her junior season with an ACL injury.

"She said, 'Coach, I've just missed too much softball time in my life,' " Rennels related.

What the heck, Heck and her teammates will play again at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the supersectional against Sterling at Barrington's Fields of Dreams. Wauconda (29-8) will get another chance to beat Sterling, which beat the Bulldogs in the Judson College supersectional last year.

In edging Grayslake Central (23-13), Wauconda won its second 1-0 game in the state tournament.

"It just shows how we can win any way the game unfolds," Rennels said. "The girls just get it done."

Kayla Wedl dominated the Rams, as she fired a 1-hitter with 17 strikeouts and no walks. She had a perfect game through seven innings. Then with one out in the Grayslake Central eighth, Julian Frusolone hit a ball into the hole.

Wauconda shortstop Lauren Need ranged to her right, dove and, from her knees, threw the ball to first base. The throw was just late, giving Frusolone a single.

After Wedl got out of the inning unscathed, Nee and Wedl hit consecutive singles to start the bottom of the eighth. After a fielder's choice, Sarah Ricci singled to load the bases.

Grayslake Central got a force at home on Angie Exline's groundball for the second out. Then, on a 2-2 count against Rams ace Brittany Brown, Heck singled into center field, scoring Alexandra Steffens.

Four Wauconda players - Wedl, Ricci, Exline and Heck - each finished 2-for-4.