Buffalo Grove’s Kim Czapla knows the thrill of victory; she has felt it 27 out of 29 times she has pitched this year. Now she knows the agony of defeat after her second-ranked Bison fell to Deerfield 5-4 in eight innings at the Deerfield softball regional final Monday.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Deerfield’s Jenny Nogal doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error by Czapla. Czapla then threw an uncharacteristic wild pitch that scored Nogal and gave the Warriors (24-9) the upset.
“The kids have worked so hard to get where they are right now,” said Deerfield coach Gayle Luehr. “We talked all season about setting little goals, and it’s been successful for us. We came in very loose. It was like, `Do these kids know they have a game today?’ “
Stephanie Izaks tripled and scored in the bottom of the first to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. The Bison (32-3) came back with three runs in the top of the fifth–two on a double by Piper Mead–to take a 4-1 lead. But the Warriors rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jocelyn Lakani tripled and drove in two runs to knot the game at 4-4.
“This was not one of our better games,” said Buffalo Grove coach Laura Stock. “It was hard. This was probably the game they wanted to win most. They’ve had a great season. They just didn’t appreciate it, though they might now.”
Izaks (13-7) allowed seven hits and struck out two to earn the victory. Czapla allowed six hits and struck out two in defeat.
Andrew: Alicia Hammer went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs to lead Sandburg (21-13) over Andrew 6-3. The Eagles scored four times in the sixth to seal the victory. Andrew ends its season at 15-15.
Bremen: Nadira Saafir threw a five-hitter with five strikeouts to lead No. 6 Thornwood over Oak Forest 4-0. Tahira Saafir went 2 for 4 with a double and Kerry Swartz also had two hits for the Thunderbirds (27-10). Oak Forest finishes 19-10.
Crete-Monee: Mary Jaszczak singled in the tying and winning runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as No. 5 Joliet (30-5) edged Lincoln-Way 6-5. Wendy Piwnicki went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead Lincoln-Way (21-12).
DeKalb: Jackie Brunworeth pitched a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and Jen Bryant doubled home the lone run as Sycamore shut out DeKalb 1-0.
Downers Grove North: Carolyn Schneider went 3 for 3 with two doubles and Tina Koludrovic went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs as No. 4 Downers Grove South (31-6) defeated Glenbard West 4-1. Amy Kruhuala pitched a three-hitter for her 20th win.
Fenton: Stephanie Greenberger smacked a two-run homer in the first inning as Lake Park (19-10) held off Addison Trail 4-3. Gina Blackwell added a two-run double in the second for the Lancers. Carin Cieslowski had a two-run single for Addison Trail (20-14).
Fremd: Fremd sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning and scored eight runs on eight hits as the No. 10 Vikings routed Lake Zurich 14-2. April Borre went 3 for 4 with a double and Robyn Pettinger and Angie Thielsen each had two hits and two RBIs for Fremd (30-8).
Lockport: Rachael Bambrick hit a game-winning two-run double in the fifth inning to lead Lockport to a 3-1 win over Benet. Shannon Lindgren pitched a five-hitter for the Porters (24-14). Benet ended its season at 28-9.
Lyons: Megan Kunz threw a one-hitter as Lyons (28-9) eliminated York 4-0. Lindsay Richards scored three runs and Jamie LeGros had three hits for Lyons.
Mundelein: Freshman Michele Kass (15-4) pitched a one-hitter and struck out four as Mundelein shut out Woodstock 2-0. Melissa Hersted (2 for 2) doubled and scored a run to lead the Mustangs.
Naperville North: Jenny Bourbeau went 2 for 2 with three RBIs, and Amanda Ortinau had a two-run double as No. 9 Glenbard North (30-7) defeated West Chicago 10-0. Chrissy Vena (16-2) allowed just three hits and struck out five for the Panthers. West Chicago finishes 22-10.
More Top Picks Best Wakeboards
Niles West: Julia Wilhelm scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the seventh, and Stephanie Howell gave up three hits and struck out three as New Trier (27-10) held off Resurrection 4-3. Amy Dobrozsi went 2 for 2 and scored a run for the Trevians.
Queen of Peace: Carole Gorecki had six strikeouts, giving her 300 this season as No. 7 Richards (27-9) blanked Mother McAuley (28-10) 3-0 to earn its first regional title since 1993.
St. Charles: Julie Morris hit a three-run homer in a seven-run second inning as St. Charles (29-8) downed Schaumburg 10-0. Kristyn Ludvik added two RBIs and earned the pitching victory.
Streator: Michelle Kerr went 3 for 4 with three doubles and three RBIs as top-ranked Morris (35-1) knocked off No. 8 Bradley-Bourbonnais 9-3. Stefanie Steele (32-1) fanned six to raise her strikeout total to 302 for the Redskins. Angie Cotsones doubled in two runs for Bradley (28-6).
Waukegan: Stevenson (22-9) shut out Warren 8-0 behind Stephanie Sulentic’s four RBIs. Warren concluded its season at 17-15.
CLASS A SOFTBALL SECTIONAL FINALS
Reed-Custer: Megan Sheil went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Sarah Brown and Julie Muraida each went 2 for 3 with an RBI to lift Evergreen Park (24-8-2) to a 5-1 victory over Reed-Custer. Sarah Reusnow (18-8) struck out three to earn the victory for the Mustangs.
St. Joseph: Kim DeYoung (14-6) gave up five hits and struck out six and helped her own cause with a homer and three RBIs as Illiana Christian (24-7) knocked off Fairbury Prairie Central 6-2 to earn their third trip in four years to the state playoffs.
CLASS AA BASEBALL REGIONAL FINALS
Highland Park: Justin Nywiede (11-0) struck out nine and gave up just three hits and also had two hits and two RBIs as No. 8 New Trier (25-10) rolled past Evanston 8-1. Evanston finishes 23-13.
Lyons: Sean Egan went 2 for 3 and also picked up the win with seven strikeouts to lead Nazareth (27-7) to a 5-4 win over Lyons. Gavin Griffin drove in two runs for Nazareth. Jake Brewer led Lyons (26-11) with a two-run home run.
Morton: Gabe Schaab and Blake Whealy each homered as top-ranked Oak Park (34-4) outscored Riverside-Brookfield 11-6. Scott Legan added two hits and three RBIs for the Huskies. Chris Jamrozy and Eric Bava each hit home runs for Riverside-Brookfield (20-7).
Naperville North: Mitch Morinec (3 for 5) had a two run-single and Jack Dime (3 for 5) added an RBI single as Glenbard West (22-13) scored six runs in the fifth inning to knock off No. 9 Waubonsie Valley 14-9. Mike Carl went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and Matt Blanton (7-1) struck out five and allowed one earned run to earn the victory in relief. Waubonsie Valley (29-5) opened the first by sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs.
Oswego: Vince Serafini pitched a three-hitter as No. 2 Lockport nipped Morris 4-3. Eric Blaeser and Matt Serafini each blasted solo home runs for the Porters (29-7). Morris fell to 28-9.
Prospect: John Austin, Chip Oviatt and Jess Sayre all homered as No. 4 Barrington beat Hersey 11-1. Austin added a double and three RBIs for the Broncos (30-8).
Rantoul: Eric Link smacked an RBI ground-rule double to headline a three-run eighth inning as Bradley-Bourbonnais (23-7) beat Champaign Centennial 4-1. Eric Perkins went the distance and struck out 11 to pick up his 12th win.
Reavis: Steve Furtek went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Pat Ross added two hits and three RBIs as Mt. Carmel (27-9) routed St. Rita 15-3. Brian Kipley (7-1) allowed four hits and struck out four to earn the five-inning victory.
St. Charles: Jim Caine went 2 for 3, scored three runs and pitched a complete game, striking out 10, as No. 7 St. Charles eliminated Geneva 8-2. Ryan Fleming added a home run for the Saints (28-9). John Maurovich took the loss for Geneva (20-18).
Sandburg: Kevin Zimont (2 for 4) homered, doubled and drove in two runs as Oak Forest (20-11) defeated Richards 6-5. Richards concluded at 22-16.
Schaumburg: Paul Reuer had two three-run homers and T.J. Nall added a three-run homer as No. 5 Schaumburg (29-5) crushed Larkin 11-0. Nall had four strikeouts in five innings and gave up only two hits. Larkin finishes at 20-11.
Stevenson: Stevenson (22-16) scored five runs in the seventh inning to hold off Glenbrook South 8-5. Keith Colosi hit a two-run single and two hit batsmen provided two more runs for the Patriots. Mike Field and Crian Cosmano hit back-to back homers in the bottom of the sixth for the Titans (29-6).
“I’ve been coaching this game long enough to know that when you have four conference champions in one regional, whoever winds up winning the regional definitely deserves to win it,’y’ said Stevenson coach Bob Mackey. “We knew Glenbrook South was a great hitting team and we were happy to get as many runs in the seventh inning as we did.”
Willowbrook: Pat Kerrigan (3 for 4, three RBIs) tied the game with a bases-loaded double in the top of the seventh, and Mike Hochhauser hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run as Hinsdale South (27-9) edged Downers Grove South 13-11.