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Softball: Patterson, St. Charles North top Glenbard North for regional title

MacKenzie Patterson's astute and patient approach at the plate came to fruition at a time when St. Charles North needed a breakthrough.

With the North Stars nursing a one-run lead in the bottom of the sixth of Friday's Class 4A regional final vs. Glenbard North on Friday, Patterson, the sophomore outfielder, poked a slicing, two-run double to left field for needed breathing room in their eventual 5-1 victory.

"She is such a thinker," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "Very thoughtful; studies the game and studies herself. She watches her at-bats, breaks things down and analyzes so many things. When she just goes out there and trusts her reps, she's as good as it gets.

"So, for her to have a moment like that as a sophomore is great."

Patterson realized Panthers starter Elle Matzke was throwing her outside offerings during her first few at-bats and the initial approach was to look inside, but she changed that approach at the right moment.

"It was a perfect hit," Patterson said.

St. Charles North (22-6) won their third consecutive regional and now await the winner of Conant or Fremd in next Tuesday's sectional semifinal hosted at St. Charles North at 4:30 p.m.

Leigh Vande Hei led off the bottom of the first with a standup triple. Julia Larson promptly knocked her in with a sacrifice fly for the early St. Charles North 1-0 lead. Larson later smacked a no-doubt solo shot to in the third for an insurance run.

In the fourth, the Panthers (16-10) started to convert some of their missed scoring chances. Avery Miller led off with a double, which was followed up by an RBI double by Ava Kozlovsky to cut the deficit to one. North Stars ace Ava Goettel rebounded with her second strikeout of the game.

After Kozlovsky stole third, Brigid Rogers smoked a sharp grounder to North Stars phenom shortstop Ginger Ritter, who cut down Kozlovsky with a play at the plate to preserve their lead. The Panthers grabbed another single, but Goettel ended the inning with a strikeout.

Glenbard North again seriously threatened in the fifth, leading off with a double by Tru Medina. Goettel was lifted for sophomore Paige Murray, and Murray continued her dominant season by striking out two and forcing a fly out to close the threat.

The North Stars busted the game open in the sixth. Larson reached on an error, Sophia Olman walked, and Maddie Hernandez reached on a bunt single to load the bases and set the table for Patterson's clutch swing. Ritter added an RBI groundout to pump the lead to 5-1 and later added a Webgem diving catch to end the game in the seventh.

"This should be next week. This is a sectional opponent," Poulin said of Glenbard North. "If Matzke [had been] in their lineup all year - she'd been out [with a fractured bone in her right foot for approximately six weeks] - they're not an eight seed; this is a top-four seed, honestly. Coming into the season, that's a top-25 team in the state.

"So this was as tough as it gets for a regional final. You're facing someone you could see in a sectional final.

"Ava battled. Paige did what Paige does. I felt like we made enough plays to get out of some of those jams. Over the course of seven innings, this lineup is going to put a few on. We're going to have one inning where we push three or four [runs] across, in my opinion. ... I was really proud of Ginger Ritter. She had a great game.

"This is a tough, tough team that knows how to win."

Matzke, the future University of Wisconsin Stevens Point freshman, tossed seven strikeouts to conclude her varsity career.

"[This season has] just meant a lot. Senior year, coming out strong, just a great group of girls to be with," Matzke said. "[Being part of the program meant] everything. It's just incredible with the group of girls and a great coaching staff. I couldn't have asked for better."

"This ace brought our program back," Panthers coach Josh Sanew said. "[We're] going to miss her after all these years. Everything. Can't say enough about the kid. She's awesome. She's amazing. We're going to miss her, and talk about a pitcher? I'd take her over anyone in the state."

Glenbard North's Brigid Rogers (6) connects on a pitch during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
Glenbard North's Alyssa Abderhalden (13) is tagged out at the plate by St. Charles North's Sophia Olman (10) during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Ginger Ritter (8) fields the last out during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Ginger Ritter (8) celebrates fielding the last out to defeat Glenbard North in the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Paige Murray (15) leaves the field after pitching a strong inning during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Leigh VandeHei (3) rounds second base during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Ava Goettel (17) delivers a pitch during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Mackenzie Patterson (7) squares up to bunt during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
Glenbard North's Chloe D'Alexander (33) connects on a pitch during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
Glenbard North's Elle Matzke (15) delivers a pitch during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Mackenzie Patterson (7) looks in at the dugout after hitting a double during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
Glenbard North's Tru Medina (34) fields a ground ball during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Julia Larson (4) is greeted at the plate after hitting a home run during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Ava Goettel (17) delivers a pitch during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
St. Charles North's Ginger Ritter (8) looks for the call at third during the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional Final softball game between Glenbard North at St. Charles North. May 26, 2023. Gary E Duncan Sr./for Shaw Local News Network
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