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Softball: Willowbrook sees steppingstone in loss

Saturday's outcome aside, the Willowbrook softball program had a breakout 2019 campaign, and the future may bring even bigger and better things.

The Warriors won 20 games this spring before dropping a 9-1 contest with Sandburg in Saturday's Class 4A regional title game at Hinsdale South. Freshman pitchers Caitlyn Kulczyski and Kayla Neff threw better than the final score would indicate, and the team's best all-around player, Ree Knudston, is just a sophomore.

Some key seniors will no doubt be missed next season, including center fielder Samantha Mishlove, whose first-inning home run gave her team a quick lead on the Eagles (19-17). But the youthful squad that made great strides while going 20-10, expects to come back stronger in 2020.

"We kept our energy up, even if we didn't get the outcome we wanted, and we're excited to come back next year and improve," said Knudston, a second baseman who hit better than .450 with 8 home runs this year. "We've got a good strong core … it's easy to stay up even if you're not getting the outcome you want because everyone's so supportive."

Mishlove's blast over the fence in left field gave Willowbrook an early spark, and the hard-throwing Kulczyski (8-4) was sharp early on before the Eagles made some solid contact and took advantage of a few wind-aided balls that just did elude Warriors fielders. The starter allowed just one hit the first two innings, but it was a game-tying homer by Sandburg's Lilli McGlothlin, who had 2 hits and also limited the Warriors to 3 hits on the day while picking up the win in the circle.

But the Eagles, who have now claimed 12 regional crowns in 14 years under coach Jim Fabianski, took the lead with 2 runs in the third and then took command with 4 more in the fourth.

"I'm definitely proud of all of my teammates and all of the players," said Kulczyski, who went five-plus innings before Neff came in and shut down the Eagles with a pair of strikeouts and a popup to strand a pair of runners in the sixth. "People stepped it up when we needed to step it up. Unfortunately we couldn't do it today. I for one know I didn't throw my best. Personally, I feel like I let my team down. I guess we all have those games once in a while."

That said, the rookie pitcher expects better results next time around.

"The team chemistry this year was amazing, and I'm just proud of everyone," she said. "We got some younger blood. I think that next year, if we get here again, this game will be different."

Warriors coach Rachel Karos wished Saturday's final score would be a better reflection of her team's strong campaign, but she too thinks better days are just around the corner.

"We had opportunities for outs and we didn't make the outs," Karos said. "We were able to get a glove on the ball a few times and were not able to secure it … they definitely weren't easy plays to make, just plays that I know we can.

"I wish the score would show how great we did this season. They are good players, but above all they are some of the best people in the school. You're going to get good things from us next year."

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