Softball: Barrington knocks Huntley out again
Huntley won the Fox Valley Conference softball championship while Barrington claimed the Mid-Suburban League crown.
Both teams entered Saturday's Class 4A Huntley sectional championship game with 32 wins.
Something had to give.
Propelled by a 4-run second inning, the Fillies edged the host Red Raiders 5-3 to win the sectional championship. It's the third straight year Barrington has eliminated Huntley from the postseason, and the second straight in the title game.
Barrington (33-3), which finished third in Class 4A last year, advances to its own supersectional to play MSL foe Palatine Monday at 7 p.m. The Pirates defeated host Warren 11-5 to advance to the supersectional. Barrington knocked off Palatine 7-2 and 7-3 in MSL action.
Saturday, the Fillies won their 11th sectional title and 10th under 26th-year head coach Perry Peterson.
Huntley ends the 2018 campaign with a 32-6 record, a program record for wins in a season.
"We are just happy to be practicing Sunday," said Peterson. "We just kept pushing in trying to keep scoring. Huntley has a high level program with a lot of talent. They are a phenomenal team."
The key hits in the pivotal second were a 2-RBI single by junior Kendall Peterson, a run-scoring double by Jessica Bellis and an RBI single from Jenna Patino.
Kendall Peterson, the coach's daughter and a Northwestern recruit, led the Fillies' offensive attack with a 3-for-3 effort which included 2 doubles, 2 RBI and a run scored.
"I tried to stay loose and be quick with the bat," she said. "I saw the ball well and got good swings at the ball. I am glad for the senior class they get to play at home in the supersectionals."
The Fillies scored an insurance run in the fifth on am RBI single by Abbey Jacobsen, who was 2-for-3 in the game.
In relief of starter and winner Catherine McMahon, Tori Meyer blanked the Red Raiders in 4 innings of work. Meyer struck out 2 without a walk.
"I just wanted to come in focused and throw strikes," said Meyer. "My riseball was really working. I had total confidence in my defense that they would make the plays."
Perry Peterson has confidence in his three pitchers - McMahon, Meyer and Caroline Hoppe.
"I have total confidence in all three pitchers," he said. "They have all done the job in their role. Today, Tori was outstanding."
The Red Raiders scored all 3 runs in the third on a 3-RBI double by Grace Kutz. Barrington walked Autumn Kasal intentionally to get to Kutz.
"I was really upset and mad that they walked Autumn," said Kutz. "My coaches told me to make them pay. I got a good pitch to hit and really drove it."
Starting and losing pitcher Tiffany Giese only lasted 1⅔ innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits.
Briana Bower was outstanding in relief. In 4⅓ innings, the Huntley freshman allowed a run on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
"Being a senior I hated to take Tiffany out," said Huntley coach Mark Petryniec. "We needed to change the momentum of the game. Briana came in and was phenomenal. It is nice to have her for three more years. We had a very successful season and have no regrets."