Although Providence softball coach Dick Mandella insists that the revenge factor did not play a role in the Celtics’ 2-1 win over No. 1 Lockport on Saturday, his team certainly played like it had something to prove.
In 1998 Providence lost to Lockport (4-2) in the sectional championship, a 3-2, nine-inning affair. Providence went deep into the playoffs last year, following a 29-5 season, only to lose to No. 3 Joliet in the regional championship.
The Celtics returned to the field this season, having lost seven starters, looking to prove that they are not just a team in transition.
“This was a game for our girls to say, `We’re not in a rebuilding situation,'” said Mandella. “We can still compete with top-ranked teams.”
Providence (4-0) won in dramatic fashion, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Elizabeth Pawlicki led off the inning with a single. Sara Bandauski then bunted Pawlicki to second. Kristie Sauter doubled home Pawlicki for the win, providing all the run support winning pitcher Katie Rampke needed.
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The two teams were deadlocked 1-1 from the third inning on, and Mandella revealed a hint of clairvoyance going into the seventh.
“I told them once the game got into the later innings somebody was going to have to use a bunt situation. Somebody was going to come up with a big hit, and that’s how the game was going to end.”
Emily Badger.
Sandburg 4-12, Homewood-Flossmoor 0-2: Amy Peters threw a shutout to hand No. 2 Sandburg (4-0) the win in Game 1. Sarah Snow went 4 for 4 in the second game with three doubles, two runs and five RBIs.
Downers Grove South 4, Fenwick 0: Jenny Mayer threw a two-hitter as No. 4 Downers improved to 5-0.
Richards 10-6, T.F. South 0-4: Lindsey LaChiana wasn’t content to simply take the win in Game 1 for No. 7 Richards. She also pitched five-plus innings in the second game as Richards (5-0) pulled out a come-from-behind, nine-inning victory. Marnie Walsh doubled and scored the winning run in the top of the ninth.
Addison Trail 6-6, Batavia 0-0: Both Kristen Brestan and Katie Sczaja pitched two-hit shutouts for Addison Trail (4-0). For the day, Sczaja was also 3 for 6 at the plate with five RBIs. Tracy Bruntz, who racked up five stolen bases on the day, was the hitting star in Game 2 with a 3-for-3 performance and three RBIs.
Downers Grove North 7-11, Bolingbrook 3-1: After falling behind 1-0 in the second game, Downers North (7-0) broke out with a 10-run fourth inning. Marie Sarno went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and pitched one inning of relief for the win.
Eisenhower 16-23, Rich South 3-1: Lindsey Gierman went a combined 6 for 9 with six runs and six RBIs as Eisenhower (8-0) rolled.
Elk Grove 14-0, Fenton 5-8: Melissa Lindahl tossed a shutout in Game 2 for Fenton (1-4), and also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Good Counsel 15-7, St. Benedict 0-9: Stefanie Berecz hit a game-winning, two-run round-tripper in the top of the seventh for St. Benedict in Game 2. She had two home runs on the game and went 3 for 3 with five RBIs.
Hinsdale South 2, Naperville North 1: Lisa Giampoli’s RBI single in the sixth inning made the difference for Hinsdale South (8-2).
Jacobs 9-2, Bartlett 2-6: Maria Doukas struck out 12 in the first game for Jacobs. Angie McSteen went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a stolen base in the Game 2 to lift Bartlett.
Larkin 5-5, Niles West 3-1: Kim Dean and Bre Kluxdall each went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Larkin (7-0) in the first and second games, respectively.
Marian Catholic 21-12, Rich East 0-2: Kelly Reutican had two triples and two RBIs to lead four Marian players with three hits in the first game.
Oswego 5-1, Kaneland 4-7: Ana Miller went 4 for 4 with four RBIs as Kaneland salvaged a split in Game 2.
Plainfield 7, Neuqua Valley 3: Lindsy Embree and Karin Olson each went 2 for 4 with a triple for Plainfield.
Prospect 1-5, Mundelein 0-6: In the first game Rachel Theodore drove in the winning run for Prospect (3-1) on a sixth-inning single. Michelle Kass, who took the win in Game 2 with three innings of relief, had a game-winning RBI in the seventh for Mundelein (1-1).
Rosary 2-0, West Aurora 1-3: Carrie Birth’s two-out, two-RBI single in the fourth inning of Game 1 gave pitcher Tiffany Thurow all the support she needed to hand Rosary a win in its opener. West Aurora (3-1) rebounded in the second game behind Melissa Nohl’s one-hitter. Catcher Sarah Hamling went 3 for 3 in the second game and also threw out a Rosary base-stealer.
Tinley Park 8-2, Oak Lawn 3-12: Amy Ferry hit a grand slam in an eight-run seventh for Tinley Park (3-2-1) in Game 1.