The Lyons softball team was out for more than just a regional title Tuesday against Riverside-Brookfield.
“We really wanted revenge this year,” Lyons pitcher Jaime LeGros said. “We lost 1-0 to R-B in the regional semifinals last season, so that was an extra incentive to win today.”
LeGros did most of the work for the Lions in the rematch, striking out eight and scattering five hits over a complete game in a 5-1 victory.
She also benefited from the four unearned runs Lyons scored in the first inning.
“I told them `as long as you get one run, that’ll be good,'” Lyons coach Dawn Schabacker said. “But to get four in the first inning, that was great. The key, especially in regionals, is getting a couple of runs early in the game, and then to play good defense.”
LeGros helped pad her own cushion, going 2 for 3 and scoring one of the first-inning runs.
Venessa Rodriguez also led the hitting with a 2-for-2 day, an RBI and a run scored.
“This was a sweet win. Both teams played their hearts out, especially after big games yesterday [in the semifinals],” Schabacker said. “The kids are playing with a lot of confidence in their hitting and also defensively, and that is so important in regionals.”
Riverside-Brookfield ended the season with a 16-17 record.
Buffalo Grove: Ellen Stoddard continued her dominant pitching in the postseason, tossing a one-hitter with five strikeouts Tuesday as Fremd (28-7) blanked Hersey 3-0. Stoddard has allowed one run and four hits in her last 35 innings of work, which also included a no-hitter.
All of Fremd’s runs came in the fifth inning and were unearned.
“I think right now we are finding our way and showing exactly what we’re capable of and what we’ve worked so hard for,” Stoddard said. “This is everything we worked for and now its paying off.”
Lake Zurich: Stevenson scored all of its runs in the top of the fourth to defeat Crystal Lake South 3-0. Elissa Wisniewski had eight strikeouts and allowed just two hits to earn the victory for Stevenson.
Normal: Normal West defeated Normal 2-1 in eight innings as Nicole Reed went 2-3 with an RBI and Jilian Widick pitched all eight innings to earn the victory.
Niles West: Mandy Kohl pitched all nine innings, allowing three hits and striking out 14, and Hillary Shulman drove in the eventual game-winning run with a double in the top of the ninth as New Trier edged Prospect 1-0.
Oak Park: Kerry Hayes allowed two first-inning hits and then was perfect for the last six innings as Oak Park (29-6) advanced with a 2-0 victory over St. Ignatius. Hayes added seven strikeouts and Mary Kolbusz singled home both runs in the top of the seventh.
“Mary has been struggling with the bat all year,” Oak Park coach Mel Kolbusz said of his daughter. “I know that she can hit and she knows it, too, and today she came up big for us.”
St. Ignatius finished the season 24-8.
Pekin: Susan Leichenberg went 2 for 3 with three RBIs to lead Pekin to a 5-2 victory over Bartonville-Limestone.
Public League quarterfinals: Jennybee Lino had two hits and three RBIs and Angelica Santana allowed just one hit and struck out 10 as Mather advanced with a 13-1 victory over Young.
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Jessica Headley struck out six as Lane rolled past Northside Prep 15-0.
Melissa Walker and Falyn Tanayo each drove in two runs as Washington (20-14) eliminated Morgan Park 16-6.
Zion-Benton: Zion-Benton prevailed 1-0 in eight innings as Joan Phillips drove in the game-winner. Zion pitcher Somer Stilfey’s no-hitter was broken up in the eighth.