Softball: Hersey's seniors go out on top
Now this is the way to throw a farewell party.
After four years competing for the three-time defending Mid-Suburban League East championship Hersey softball team, Sarah Bailitz (no-hitter), Brianna Luciano and Makalya Tsagalis played starring roles in the final home game of their long varsity careers Friday.
For starters, South Dakota recruit Tsagalis went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.
In her last at-bat on the Hersey diamond, Winona State bound Luciano (1-for-2, sacrifice fly, 3 RBI) ended the game with a 2-run single up the middle giving Hersey a 15-0 four-inning victory over Vernon Hills.
Luciano also made the final out for Hersey when she fielded a tough chopper by Vernon Hills' Purdue-bound senior shortstop Delaney Bowen, who only had 1 at-bat (arrived late due to advanced placement testing).
Finally, Dayton recruit Bailitz (3-for-3, 2 RBI) will never forget her final home game.
She fired the first no-hitter of her career and belted her first inside-the-park home run to lead off the Huskies' 6-run fourth inning.
"I have no words," Bailitz said about the dramatic finish to her home career. "The team played great defense behind me. We were all in. We were playing loose and having a lot of fun."
The fun carried over to the postgame cookout where the Class 4A Huskies (22-6) treated the Class 3A Cougars (16-14) to burgers and chips.
"There was a lot to celebrate," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "We love playing at home. We love our home field. We loved the crowds that come out every day and the parents doing the spectacular cookout for our last home game is so great."
And the Huskies' bats were great, as they belted 14 hits.
Neti Napoli (2-for-4), Natalia Kubsik (2-for-2, HR, 2B) and Savanah Gazda (2-for-3) were multiple hitters while Megan Mullen also had a homer. It was Kubsik's fourth home run and Mullen's second.
Meanwhile, Bailitz was taking care of business on the mound, striking out the side in the first two innings and finishing with 9 strikeouts in only four innings.
Leadoff batter Jordyn Smith reached twice on a walk and another Cougar got to first on a dropped-third strike in the fourth inning for Vernon Hills' only baserunners.
"It was really a good day," Bailitz said. "We're having a really good stretch and I'm really happy for all of us. For Bri (Luciano) to close it out with that hit and making our final out at short, was great.
"We've (Bailitz, Luciano and Tsagalis) had each other's backs all the last four years. We've gone through a lot and this was a great way to end at home. I also have to give credit to our pitch calling from (assistant coach Jessica Franco).
"I'm so proud of everyone. It's probably been one of our best seasons."
Tsagalis and Luciano agreed.
"It's just special to finish like this at home," Luciano said. "Honestly we made so many memories here. I'm going to miss it so much. I'm so happy for Sarah that she got this (no-hitter). It's just amazing."
"It's been a great ride," Tsagalis said. "It's kind of sad that it's all over at home but it was great way to end our home schedule."
The Cougars will be home on Saturday for a doubleheader with Grayslake Central beginning at 10 a.m.
"We can always learn and still get better even though we're at the end of the season," said Cougars coach Jan Pauly. "We still have work to do and we're hoping to finish strong (Saturday) and into next week.
"We still have a winning record but we can play better softball. We need to get our bats going."
Freeman liked what she saw from her team's bats.
"We wanted for all our seniors (Chloe Gordon, Renae Curtis, Bailitz, Luciano and Tsagalis) to appreciate both Thursday (Mid-Suburban League championship game) and today," she said. "They played fantastic on Thursday (4-2 loss to a 26-2 Palatine team) and to finish with a win today is a special way to end.
"At this point of the season we're just trying to have fun, trying to stay loose and touch up for the postseason so that we're ready go. We know next week there is a lot on the line and we want to be ready for it."