Lockport`s softball players made a prophet of their coach Wednesday.
All season long, Barb Burk has told the Porters that it`s just a matter of time until everything started falling into place.
During the fifth inning of Lockport`s 5-1 victory over Andrew
(22-2,10-1), which entered the game ranked No. 2 in The Tribune poll, the third-ranked Porters` time arrived.
Trailing 1-0, Lockport parlayed singles by Dana Youngren and Diana Kelley, a sacrifice fly by Maureen Patapas and an Andrew throwing error into a 2-1 lead.
That was all the help junior pitcher Leigh Podlesny (22-1) needed to lift the Porters` record to 26-1, 10-0 in the South Inter-Conference Association West Division. The two teams meet again Friday at Lockport.
”Ever since before the season started, when we didn`t know if we could beat anybody, I`ve been telling them, `It`s just a matter of time,` ” said Burk. ”That`s been our theme all year. After we`d been hitting the ball well the first few innings, I said `Go get `em.` ”
Lockport, which collected eight hits off losing pitcher Nancy Roe, put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth. Jenni Laczynski led off with a solo home run, and Karen Ostroski and Kelley had run-scoring singles.
Podlesny, who surrendered a run in the first when Phyllis Bonominio singled, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Bonnie Tholl`s single up the middle, allowed five hits and struck out eight.
Morton 6, Willowbrook 0–Kelli Gaisford (18-2) and Marci Kritikos combined on a two-hitter, and Dawn Viti had three hits as No. 4 Morton (26-2, 10-1) tuned up for Thursday`s West Suburban Conference Gold Division showdown against No. 9 Hinsdale South.
Wells 7-6, Young 1-21–After suffering its first loss in the Public League North-Central Division, Young (14-2, 11-1) breezed in the nightcap behind Carol Runyan (3 hits, 7 RBIs) and Kim Bailey (3 hits, 4 RBIs).
Sandburg 4, Thornwood 3–Sandburg (17-4), leaders in the SICA North, scored four runs in the sixth to beat SICA East leader Thornwood (21-5). Sandburg`s Michelle Warren (15-3) allowed only one hit, a two-run triple by Pam Palmore that keyed Thornwood`s three-run sixth.
Libertyville 11, Stevenson 2–Kathleen Quilty tossed a two-hitter as Libertyville (23-5, 15-2) retained its No. 1 spot in the North Suburban.
Dundee-Crown 7, McHenry 0–Jeaneen Turner gave up just three hits and struck out 12 as Dundee-Crown (20-2, 16-1) rolled in the Fox Valley.Ridgewood Class A regional–Driscoll (5-15) decked Francis Parker 18-2 in five innings with Tracey Byrne hurling a two-hitter and driving in six runs with a home run, double and two singles.
Evergreen Park Class A regional–Kim McCoy hurled a three-hitter and had two RBIs as Luther East (5-11) stunned Westmont 7-3.
BASEBALL
Lyons 11, Oak Park 9–Pat Maloney had a solo home run and Dave Bukowski a three-run blast during a nine-run second inning as Lyons (22-9, 13-6) clinched second place in the West Suburban Silver.
St. Rita 3, Mt. Carmel 0–Don Losso (9-1) fired a three-hitter with eight strikeouts, and Dave Hyerczyk drove in two runs to propel No. 2 St. Rita
(29-3, 16-1) in the Catholic League.
Fenwick 14, Hales Franciscan 8–Steve Bieneman drove in four runs with a homer and two doubles to lift Fenwick (23-3, 15-2) in the Catholic League.
Stevenson 3, Libertyville 3–The North Suburban Conference`s first-place battle was suspended after 10 innings because of darkness and will be resumed Thursday.
Maine South 2, Glenbrook North 0–Maine South`s Dave Malin (8-3) and Glenbrook North`s Tom Shafer gave up only one hit apiece, but Schaefer, who struck out 11, was victimized by a two-out, two-run double by Dave Wojdyla that enabled Maine South (16-12, 9-5) to clinch a share of first place in the Central Suburban League South Division.
Clemente 5, Lane Tech 1–Clifton Garrett belted a two-run homer as Clemente (19-12, 12-2) stopped co-champion Lane Tech (22-9, 12-2) to gain the No. 1 spot in the North Section for the Public League playoffs.
Kenwood 12, Tilden 0–Sherman Davis (6-3) tossed a no-hitter with seven strikeouts for Kenwood`s Central-East champions (15-10, 13-1).
Reavis 3, Richards 1–Reavis (17-10, 9-1) clinched a share of the SICA North title behind Bill Novak`s three-hitter and Dave Demumbrum`s two-run double.Providence 3, Benet 1–Providence (29-3), which joins the West Suburban Catholic Conference next season, served notice of what to expect with its 11th straight victory. Steve Purchase (6-0) allowed two hits in four innings and Andy Carlton collected two hits.
St. Laurence 5, St. Francis de Sales 1–Dave Kadela worked five innings and scattered four hits, and Rob Domino and Pat Kolpak drove in two runs apiece for St. Laurence (19-8, 11-5) in the Catholic League.
Brother Rice 13, Gordon Tech 3–Pat Brankin keyed a 10-run fifth with a two-run double to lead Brother Rice (17-12, 11-6) in the Catholic League.
Chicago Vocational 3, South Shore 2–Gregory Dean (6-0) tossed a four-hitter and struck out six for Chicago Vocational (18-9, 8-4) in the Southeast Section.
Zion-Benton 3, Warren 0–Dan Litewski (9-2) allowed three hits and struck out six, and Greg Green had two hits for Zion-Benton (15-10, 11-6) in the North Suburban.
Phillips 6, Du Sable 5–Darnell Lane was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored twice to lead Phillips (15-6, 11-3) in the Central-East.
Lemont Class A regional–Ron Hubbard threw a two-hitter and struck out 12 as Luther East (10-10) dumped Willibrord 8-5 for its first-ever regional victory.
Lisle Class A regional–Scott Jackson tossed a two-hitter and struck out five as Francis Parker surprised Lisle 6-1.
