Softball: Downers Grove North prevails against Naperville North
Even in a season-ending defeat, the Naperville North softball team showed just how far it has come this spring and the Huskies also flashed reasons to believe in a bright future.
A fourth-seeded Downers Grove North (23-5) team prevailed in the Class 4A Geneva regional semifinal 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon but found itself in a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning before finally getting some timely hits off Naperville North pitcher Dani Biesada. A two-out liner in the bottom of the fifth by Zoe Varsbergs scored Katie Polaski with what proved to be the winning run.
The Trojans followed that hit with two more hits and then an error by the Huskies made it a 4-1 game. Two more runs in the sixth made it a 6-1 game, and Downers North pitcher Savannah Rodriguez had little trouble finishing off the win and advancing to Saturday's regional title game against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Metea Valley and Geneva.
"They battled, and Dani pitched really well," said Huskies coach Jerry Kedziora said. "It's tough for them to see her three times (through the order) and hold them down. Once they got through to the third time we knew it would be tough."
Even so, a big hit here or there or a play in the field and these Huskies (13-17) may have been ready for a big upset win.
"They're just too good a hitting team. We didn't make a play (with two outs) and then another play goes through our legs. But we're a pretty young team and they're an experienced team and they were able to weather the storms a little better than we were."
The Huskies in the top of the first inning when Callie Ladone walked and came around on a single by Morgan Johannes. Johannes, a senior catcher, hit the ball hard all four at-bats and went 2-for-4 against the Trojans.
Downers North countered with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, and the game stayed 1-1 until the Trojans struck for three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
"I definitely think we worked well together and we gave it our all," said Biesada, who closed out her senior season with a solid effort in the circle. "We didn't give up when a lot of things didn't go our way. (The tough losses) happened a lot throughout the season, but it wasn't for lack of trying. But we've also had games that were close where we got a play or two that we needed. I'm really proud of our team."
The Trojans' top of the order did the most damage. Polaski reached base four times from the leadoff spot and scored three runs, and No. 2 hitter Jade Mejia Wick had a bunt single, a sacrifice bunt and a 2-run double off the wall.
"Our bats didn't come alive until the fifth inning, but Savannah threw another great game," Trojans coach Eric Landschoot said. "She's a sophomore and she's starting to get a little experience under her belt. It's always good to have a test like that early on. Just take your hat off to a team like that. That pitcher kept their team in the game and kept our hitters off balance."
Kedziora will have to replace Tuesday's battery mates Johannes and Biesada, along with center fielder Kelsey Warren who had two hits. But the Huskies coach was thrilled to see his team grow this spring after a 1-7 start, and a slew of underclassmen picked up plenty of experience.
"You know, I'm proud," he said. "From where we came from to where we're at right now, we got better. We'll continue to get better. (Our) 6-7-8-9 (hitters) were all freshmen and sophomores. They learned about teamwork. They learned to work together and trust one another … they learned how to be teammates and that's something we'll take going forward."