Softball: McKay gives Downers Grove South a lift vs. WW South
Deficits have been rare this season for Downers Grove South and ace Randy McKay, but sure enough Wheaton Warrenville South took a short-lived lead in the third.
But rather than panic, the 31-2 Mustangs and McKay answered and in a big way. First McKay belted a 2-run home run in the bottom of the third to regain the lead, and then the team's home run leader, Kaitlyn Wilson, followed with a blast that helped power Downers Grove South to a 4-2 win in Wednesday's second sectional semifinal played at Plainfield North.
With their 24th consecutive win the Mustangs advance to Friday's sectional title against Geneva, which outlasted Plainfield East 4-3 in extra innings in the first contest Wednesday.
WW South had tied the score at 1-1 in the second on a squeeze bunt by Franki Lang, then went ahead when Carly Briggs led off the third with a home run over the fence in left-center field. But McKay made sure the Tigers' lead was short-lived.
Downers South leadoff hitter Maggie Greco, who had opened the game's scoring with a homer off the scoreboard in left in the bottom of the first, started the key rally with a bunt single in the third and then stole second, bringing McKay up with one out.
"I've got to do my job, too," McKay said, noting that her teammates' big bats have had her back all spring while she's gone 22-2 in the circle. "I was so excited that at-bat. I knew if there was any time it was now. Maggie was on base and we were behind, I just wanted to get a basehit. I wanted to get Maggie in to tie this game."
But the senior star did even better.
"I got more than that and I was like, all right," she said of her game-turning 2-run shot off Tigers pitcher Izzy Fawcett, who was sharp. "I was ahead in the count and I knew that she was going to come in somewhere near the zone to try and get back so I was looking for my pitch and it happened to be low and inside and I turned on it. It felt good off the bat and I hoped it would go out."
Wilson's smash in the next at-bat also felt good and provided McKay some insurance as she went the distance with 8 strikeouts while allowing 4 hits.
"We've had a lot of back-to-back home runs this year which is cool because our team gets fired up after home runs. It's just so fun," said McKay, whose team has hit 45 home runs this year heading into Friday's sectional championship.
For Briggs, who had a homer and a double, the result was rough, but doesn't take away from a solid campaign that ends 24-10.
"Yes, there were a lot of positives," said Briggs, a junior second baseman. "This team is amazing. I don't know what I'm going to do without all my teammates, honestly. The team has grown so much this year. I love this team, the girls are amazing."
Tigers coach Jeff Pawlak agreed.
"I'm really proud of the girls," he said. "Wheaton Warrenville South didn't really have a softball name attached to it, and you know, I think it does now. They should be proud of that. They don't give up."