Softball: Libertyville shuts out Wauconda for NSC title

Kayla Wedl's game-day outfit confirmed social-media gossip.

Libertyville's softball team arrived at Wauconda on Thursday for the North Suburban Conference championship game and immediately noticed that Wauconda's pitching and hitting star was not in her ball uniform. Bulldogs coach Tim Rennels said Wedl had "stiffness" in her back after she tweaked it running the bases last Friday.

"With all of the technology, the kids had a group chat earlier (in the day)," Libertyville coach Elissa Wisniewski said of her players. "We told them, 'You can't always rely on that kind of thing, especially with a championship game. Rumors are going to float.'

"But when we walked up and saw (Wedl) in shorts, we were like, 'All right, maybe it's true.' "

Short story: Wedl in shorts figured to make for a long day for Wauconda.

Libertyville didn't win easily but made quick work of its opponent nonetheless. The Wildcats won 3-0 behind their own pitching and hitting star in a game that took only one hour and 15 minutes to complete.

Libertyville (25-7), which last won the NSC in 1994, had beaten Wedl and her teammates 2-1 two weeks earlier.

"It was shocking, actually (to learn Wedl would not play)," Hannah Heraty, who set Libertyville's single-season record for wins on Tuesday, said after pitching a 4-hitter for her 22nd victory. "We played such a great game against her the first time and battled her. She's such a great pitcher. (Her not playing) gave us a little confidence boost, but we knew we still had to come out with the same intensity and energy."

Kayla Serio was ready for the challenge. With Wedl out, the Wauconda freshman started in the circle and never let the championship atmosphere get to her.

"I was a little nervous (going into the game) because I didn't know I was pitching until this morning, actually," Serio said.

Wedl played against Round Lake last Saturday and then against Grant and Vernon Hills on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. But Rennels said she told him on Thursday that she wouldn't be able to play against Libertyville.

"She was in a lot of pain (Wednesday)," Rennels said. "She's going to gut it out as long as she can. ... It's best we rest her up for the playoffs anyway."

Even without Wedl, the Wildcats knew Wauconda wouldn't go down easily.

"There's a reason why this team is here every year in this game," Wisniewski said after handing Wauconda (23-7) its third-straight loss in the NSC title game.

Serio worked fast and got ahead of hitters. After retiring the dangerous Jessie Lauret to leave the bases loaded in the fourth, she got the first batter she faced in the fifth. Jamie Stevens then singled, and Heraty legged out a groundball to deep short. Lyndsey Lyon then drilled a double to center field, scoring both Stevens and Heraty.

"The last few games she's come out and really hit the ball hard again, like she's capable of," Wisniewski said of Lyon, who went 2-for-4. "She went through a little streak where she was getting hits but they were like seeing-eye singles."

Franny Quenan (2-for-2, walk) made it three straight hits with an RBI single, but the Wildcats couldn't add on. Serio threw 6 scoreless innings otherwise, striking out two, walking one and allowing 8 hits.

"She's really talented," Heraty, who banged a first-inning double off the top of the fence and finished 2-for-4, said of her pitching opponent. "She has really good potential. Her spin is pretty good."

Wauconda stranded two runners, including Taylor McCarthy (double) at third base, in the first inning. The Bulldogs threatened again the second. Alyssa McCarthy singled to left field, but Emily Hilldale showed off her strong arm by throwing the ball on the fly to home plate. Catcher Sarah Hoyer easily tagged out Sarah Ricci, who had led off the inning with a single.

Heraty struck out three and didn't walk a batter, hitting one. Rennels praised both Heraty and his own pitcher. His team simply got beat.

"They earned them," Rennels said of Libertyville's 3 runs in the fifth. "I didn't want it to be where we boot a play or throw a ball away. We lost the first Libertyville match that way. This time it was clean."