When Oak Lawn defeated Richards in softball on April 28, it marked the first time in 11 years the Spartans won a game against their neighborhood rival.
But how about a season sweep?
“I couldn’t even tell you,” Oak Lawn coach Brian Frangella said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
The Spartans are done waiting. Kaleigh Hayes scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning and Oak Lawn seized a 3-2 victory Monday in South Suburban Red play.
Hayes started the inning on second base after a scoreless eighth and ninth inning moved the game to international rules, a relatively new guideline in the South Suburban Conference.
“I didn’t realize it until Mia Loya, our second baseman, was like, ‘You’re running for us,'” Hayes said. “I was like, ‘Oh, yay!’ I was just excited to be able to be that winning run.”
Hayes reached third on a well-placed bunt from Maddie Pagliaro and didn’t hesitate heading home after Richards committed an error trying to get Pagliaro at first.
“The top of our lineup — the 1-2 with Kaleigh and Maddie — have put pressure on defenses all year with their bunting, whether it be sacrifices or bunting for singles,” Frangella said. “It turned out we had the right people up at the right time.”
Hayes went 3-for-5 with a double, stolen base and two runs for Oak Lawn (14-15, 10-8). Marisa Loya pitched 10 innings and surrendered one earned run. She fanned seven batters Monday after being the hero in the first meeting, where she hit a two-run double in the eighth as Oak Lawn took a 2-0 victory.
“Every time we play them, it’s a little extra suspense,” said Marisa Loya, who added an RBI single. “It’s a little more buildup and more rivalry.”
Richards (14-14, 13-6) received a strong showing from Sara Kiziak on the mound. Kiziak struck out four and limited Oak Lawn to two runs in the third inning after loading the bases with one out.
“She’s definitely one of the best pitchers we’ve seen this year,” Hayes said.
“Sara did a great job if you look at how it all played out,” Richards coach Julie Folliard said. “We had some nice hits, we just didn’t knock the girls in at the right time.”
It didn’t look like Oak Lawn would need extra innings to complete the sweep. The Spartans held a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the sixth. However, Emily Wetzel had other ideas.
Wetzel, a UIC recruit, blasted a homer to left to tie the score.
“I was a bit surprised I got that pitch to hit,” Wetzel said. “I haven’t been hitting as well as I should be, but I just recently started getting back into it. I wanted to do better for my team.”
Richards wouldn’t muster much offense after that, though. Marisa Loya was all business, scattering two hits over the final 13 outs.
“It’s very exciting,” Marisa Loya said. “They have a couple really good hitters and you just have to work them hard and come back; keep perservering and you can do it.”
Kiziak scored the first run for Richards on an Oak Lawn error after earning a walk and stealing a base.
Natalia Rafacz added an RBI single for Oak Lawn.
Andrew 20, Reavis 4: Kayla Plastiak (3-for-4, 8 RBIs) clubbed three homers – including a grand slam – to boost Andrew (20-9).
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Marist 8, Benet 0: Winning pitcher Zariya Gonzalez (4 innings, 5 strikeouts) went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs as Marist (28-4-2, 18-0 East Suburban Catholic) completed an undefeated season in conference play.
Tinley Park 14, Bremen 2: Meghan Kendra (2-for-2, 3 RBIs) was among the standouts for Tinley Park (17-6, 15-4 SSC Blue).
Joliet Catholic 9, De La Salle 2: Alyssa Callans starred on the mound (complete game, 7 strikeouts) and at the plate (2-for-3, double, run, RBI) for Joliet Catholic (14-16).
Lincoln-Way Central 8, Plainfield North 7: Melanie Bakotic (1-for-3) belted a grand slam to propel Lincoln-Way Central (21-10).
Lincoln-Way East 2, Bolingbrook 0: Nikole Van Gennep tossed a three-hitter and fanned seven to pace Lincoln-Way East (21-4, 12-1 SWSC Blue).
Providence 12, Plainfield Central 4: Maeve Garvey (3-for-4, 2 runs, 5 RBIs) smacked a grand slam for Providence (19-9).
Lincoln-Way West 4, Peotone 1: Kayla Seymour (2-for-4, double, run, stolen base) contributed for Lincoln-Way West (20-10).
T.F. South 6, Crete-Monee 3: Winner Devin Pieper struck out 15 in addition to contributing an RBI for T.F. South (17-11).
Illinois Lutheran 10, Seton 0: Hannah Hinz (3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) helped Illinois Lutheran (16-10) advance to the Class 1A regional semifinal at Gardner-South Wilmington.
Baseball
Joliet Catholic 5, Benet 1: Connor Brandon (3-for-3, 3 RBIs) hit a two-run homer to power Joliet Catholic (25-6-1, 12-3 East Suburban Catholic).
Providence 10, Joliet West 0: Leadoff hitter Mike Madej (3-for-3, 3 doubles, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) set the tone for Providence (22-10).
Reavis 4, Evergreen Park 3: Lael Robles (2-run HR) hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to lift Reavis (13-16, 9-8 SSC Red).
Nazareth 2, Marist 1: Ryan Kairis (earned run, 7 strikeouts) pitched a complete game and also scored the lone run for Marist (20-12, 9-9 ESCC).
Lincoln-Way North 4, Lincoln-Way East 3: Ryan Anderson singled home Luke Witkowski in the top of the seventh with the deciding run for Lincoln-Way North (22-9-1).
Chicago Christian 14, Manteno 5: Jack DeVries (2-for-3, 3 runs) clubbed a two-run homer for Chicago Christian (28-7).
Oak Forest 14, Tinley Park 4: Luke Heniff (2-for-4) racked up three RBIs for Oak Forest (22-8, 15-2 SSC Blue).
Morgan Park 13, Kelly 3: Darius Hill (1-for-1, 3 run) walloped a three-run homer for Morgan Park (21-10) in the Public League playoffs.
Lincoln-Way West 11, Thornridge 0: A.J. Ashley (2-for-2, triple) provided two runs and two RBIs for Lincoln-Way West (25-4, 10-2 SWSC Red).
Richards 16, T.F. South 7: Noel Castro (3-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) hit a three-run homer for Richards (17-13, 13-5 SSC Red).
Sandburg 10, Rich Central 0: Dan Dziadkowiec (1-for-1) supplied a two-run double and three RBIs for Sandburg (16-11).
Oak Lawn 5, Argo 3: Joe Dodaro (1-for-3) chalked up two RBIs for Oak Lawn (17-14, 13-5 SSC Red).
Ag. Science 5, Von Steuben 0: Tom Gleason threw a one-hitter for Ag. Science (25-3) in the Public League playoffs.
Boys Volleyball
Lincoln-Way West 25-25, Lincoln-Way North 20-22: Michael Wexter (8 kills) and Jake Martin (13 digs) keyed Lincoln-Way West (29-4, 8-2 SWSC Red).
Brother Rice 25-25, Glenbrook North 23-23: Jack Burke (11 kills) spurred Brother Rice (23-12).
Sandburg 25-16-25, Lockport 10-25-21: Paul Chumra (13 kills) vaulted Sandburg (30-4, 9-1 SWSC Blue).
Malloy is a freelancer. Freelancer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.