It was the bottom of the eighth inning, and Glenbard West softball coach Lee Maciejewski didn’t want any more extra innings.
After Sheila McShane led off with a single and advanced to third on Michelle Kasten’s single, Maciejewski called for a safety squeeze.
And why not? Vicki Lavery is such an accomplished bunter that last season, she pinch-hit whenever the Hilltoppers needed a sacrifice.
Lavery placed an outside fastball down the right side as Downers North first baseman Kathy LeClear charged the bunt and tossed to catcher Mary McGrane.
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“Mary is the best catcher in the suburbs and had the plate completely blocked,” said Downers North coach Emily Mollet. “There’s no way that girl could score.”
Somehow, McShane slid under the tag to give Glenbard West a 1-0 victory in Glen Ellyn. It lifted the Hilltoppers to an 11-0 record, 2-0 in conference while Downers North fell to 9-5, 2-1.
“It was a little too close,” McShane said about the sudden ending to a sharply played game that was over in 58 minutes. “We practice that play every day. We knew they were a solid team, but I didn’t expect it to be this close.”
Winning pitcher Adrienne Salerno (9-0) and Downers North ace Ryan Faulk were solidly in control with Salerno tossing a five-hitter and Faulk a six-hitter.
–Bob Sakamoto
Reed-Custer 10, Sandwich 0: Nikki Flowers (11-4) tossed a six-inning perfect game to lead the Comets (11-6, 6-0) to their sixth straight Interstate Eight victory. The senior fanned eight and helped her cause defensively by deflecting a line drive to shortstop Amanda Fugett, who threw the runner out at first.
“We like to spell her (Nikki’s) name with a backward K and a forward K,” said Reed-Custer coach John Varland, referring to the notation for a strikeout and a strike out swinging.
Naperville North 4, Glenbard North 2: Stacey Trocewicz’s fifth-inning bases-clearing triple helped Naperville North (6-3, 2-1) to the DuPage Valley upset of No. 9 Glenbard North. Senior Stephanie Burlein (6-3) went the distance, striking out 14.
Stagg 8, Bolingbrook 3: The top-ranked Chargers upended Bolingbrook on the road to improve to 15-0.
Lockport 6, Richards 3: The third-ranked Porters (13-0) needed 10 innings to get by Richards (7-6) as Jenny Lindemann’s two-out, three-run homer in the top of the 10th won the non-conference contest.
Hinsdale South 4, Morton 0: Marie Barda (14-2) fanned 15 and allowed just two hits to lead the seventh-ranked Hornets (15-3, 2-0) to the West Suburban Gold victory. Deanna Marchetti drove in two runs and Kris Ross scored twice for Hinsdale South.
Lake Park 6, Elgin 0: Katie Mitsui (10-1) struck out 11 en route to her second no-hitter of the year to lead Lake Park (10-3, 5-1) in the Upstate Eight. Mitsui walked one batter and lowered her earned run average to 0.85.
Thornwood 12, Bradley-Bourbonnais 7: Thornwood (9-3) picked up the non-conference victory as Joleen Klomp (two hits) drove in three runs and Lisa Votteler two.
Barrington 5, Buffalo Grove 1: Barrington’s Michele Giovannelli’s fifth-inning double scored two to break up a 1-1 tie. Christine Pedersen (9-3) allowed six hits for the Broncos (15-3, 6-1) in the Mid-Suburban League victory.
Providence 12-4, Edwards County 2-3: Amanda Ryan knocked in three runs in the nightcap as Providence (12-4) rolled to the sweep.
Andrew 11, Argo 1: Jamie Wood gave up one hit and Jamie Daly knocked in two runs as Andrew (13-5) rolled in five innings.
Fremd 3, Wheeling 1: April Borre’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly drove in the game-winner for Fremd (10-3, 6-1 Mid-Suburban).
Glenbard South 2, Westmont 0: Jackie Cabrisas doubled in both runs and Lauren Cuthbertson (6-2) threw her fifth shutout as Glenbard South (9-2, 2-1) prevailed in the Suburban Prairie White.
Loyola 12, Evanston 11: Kate Molina doubled in the winning run as the Ramblers (12-4) scored three times in the top of the seventh to beat Evanston and tie a school record with their 11th straight victory.
Mundelein 15, Woodstock 5: Katie Prezell (8-2) earned the victory and went 4 for 5 to lead Mundelein (8-3).
Oak Park 3, Lyons 1: Beth Kolbusz (5-3) scattered five hits, and Stephanie Kutylo had an RBI and scored a run to pace Oak Park (9-6, 3-0) to the West Suburban Silver victory.
Reavis 4, Lincoln-Way 3: Heather Alfrejd doubled in the game-winner for Reavis (9-6).
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Sandburg 11, Romeoville 1: Rebecca Eary (7-3) allowed just one hit while striking out seven for Sandburg (10-6).
St. Ignatius 7, Queen of Peace 6: Erin Mackey (7-3) scattered six hits and struck out seven to lead St. Ignatius (13-4) over Queen of Peace for the first time since 1984.