Softball: Grand effort helps Atlas, Barrington win MSL title

One week earlier, Leyden Atlas's grand slam played a major role when Barrington clinched the Mid-Suburban West softball title with a win at Palatine.

Atlas was back on the map again on Thursday when she helped the Fillies win the league crown.

The junior designated player belted her second career grand slam in seven days to highlight a 9-run bottom of the third inning, leading to Barrington's 12-2 win over Hersey in the 45th annual MSL championship game.

It was a record 14th MSL championship for the Fillies, who have been playing softball for 50 years.

"It's incredible," said 26-year veteran Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who won an unprecedented 12th MSL title. "This never gets old. It's a special opportunity for our kids and a great showcase event for the Mid-Suburban League. I'm really proud of our girls and look forward to beginning the playoffs next week."

The Fillies will begin the playoffs with a 29-3 record after running the table in the MSL with a 16-0 record in the West.

"This was really important to all of us," said Atlas, a Rutgers recruit who went 2-for-3 with a walk. "Our team really needed this going into the playoffs."

Atlas went into the season with a knee injury and did not play her first game until three weeks ago.

"Leyden has overcome a lot with her health and her leg," Peterson said. "She is just getting better and better every day. This is the Leyden Atlas I know and expect to see as we move forward."

East champion Hersey (20-7) stepped forward first on the scoreboard.

Hersey leadoff batter Makayla Tsagalis walked, went to second on Hannah Graff's sacrifice bunt and scored on single to right by junior pitcher Brianna Luciano (10-6).

The Huskies added a run in the in the third when Graff reached on an error, scooted to third on Luciano's second hit and scored on Sarah Bailitz' sacrifice fly to right making it 2-0.

"We came out and we were prepared to go," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "We were swinging the bats and had some great defensive plays as well.

"But you have to do it throughout the whole game. After that grand slam, we were down by only 3 runs. But you can't let the wheels fall of the wagon."

The Fillies' big inning began with four consecutive singles from Patino (left), Peterson (center), Jacobsen (RBI to left) and Meyer (left).

Atlas then came up with the bases loaded and still no outs.

She pounded the ball over the center field fence, where Ria Patel made a valiant leaping attempt.

"I knew I needed to stay calm," Atlas said. "You always have to with the bases loaded. I saw the ball going and was just praying it would go over the fence."

"Oh my gosh, that was fantastic," said Jacobsen, who caught the game. "As soon as it came off the bat, I was out of the dugout and jumping up and down with all my teammates."

Senior Rachel Mori, who made her first start at first base in last year's title game against Hersey (the Fillies won 12-1 in five innings), followed Atlas' blast with an infield single.

She eventually scored along with teammates Katherine Stagnito, Samantha Murphy and Jenna Patino (RBI single), who crossed the plate for the 9-2 lead.

In all, the Fillies finished with 15 hits, led by Kendall Peterson (3-for-4, RBI on suicide squeeze bunt), Abbey Jacobsen (3-for-4, RBI), Patino (2-for-4) and Murphy (2-for-4). Tori Meyer and Jessica Bellis also had hits for the Fillies.

Catherine McMahon (13-1) went the first 4 innings (3 strikeouts) to earn the win while Meyer threw the final 2 innings, striking out three.

"It was a good team win," said Perry Peterson. "I thought Kendall had good, quality at-bats. She was really tough and I thought Abbey swung the bat well.

"And then we produced some good stuff at the bottom of the order, too. So I felt like it was good team continuity throughout the lineup."

Jacobsen, who also had a double, just missed a 4-for-4 day. Asia Luboyeski made a nice sprawling catch down the right field line to take away extra bases from Jacobsen with no outs in the bottom of the fifth.

"It feel great to get back-to-back titles," said Jacobsen who will play at Loyola next spring. "This is a team that never gives up and we're just going to keep pushing and hopefully get to where we went to get to."

The game ended by the 10-run rule in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitter Maria Gryzlo began with a walk. After another walk to Bellis, Murphy singled to right to drive home pinch runner Stagnito to finish it.

In addition to Luciano's 2 hits, the Huskies also received a double from Chloe Gordon and single from Bailitz.

"I'm super proud of these kids," said Freeman who has guided the Huskies to back-to-back 20 win seasons. "This is an unbelievable accomplishment to represent to East two years in a row and we were thrilled to be here. We're very proud of our season and we have a lot of season to play. Barrington is an outstanding team and they earned it."