– Downers Grove South regional-Kate Enochs said she started thinking about this game two weeks ago-the one where her team, Benet, would meet rival Downers Grove South in the regional final.
”I envisioned it 20 different ways,” she said. ”I envisioned one with them winning 20-0. I haven`t gotten much sleep.”
One way Enochs didn`t envision it was with Benet leading 3-0 after six innings and fanning the last Downers South batter to get Benet its first regional title.
That`s the way it happened as Benet tipped Downers South 3-0 in the Class AA regional final Tuesday after the Redwings scored three unearned runs, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
”(The defense) definitely was typical,” said coach Gretchen Sauer, whose 10th-ranked Mustangs finished 20-7. ”But usually we generate more offense.” Instead, the Mustangs got five hits off Enochs. The Mustangs added to their own woes with five errors.
No. 9 Benet, despite getting only three hits off Amy Elza (15-5), improved to 24-7 behind a solid defense. Enochs (23-7) got Downers` Debbie Mays swinging in the seventh as the Mustangs were mounting a two-out rally with runners on first and second.
”This is the biggest game we`ll face,” said Enochs. ”There was so much pressure to get past this.”
– Fenton regional-Karen White hurled a four-hitter, struck out five and walked one and Jaime Bartoli was 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs as Elk Grove
(21-9) clipped Hoffman Estates (18-8) 4-1.
– East Aurora regional-West Aurora (27-6) advanced with a 4-2 victory over Rosary (25-5) as Missy Lawrence fired a one-hitter, struck out five and walked five. Megan Weber (2-2) had a run-scoring first-inning double and Kendra Marlowe had two hits for the Blackhawks.
– Willowbrook regional-Glenbard North (23-6) blanked York 6-0 with Candy Carrellas hurling a route-going four-hitter. Jenny Smelko (double, three RBIs), Kristy Kelly (two doubles, two RBIs) and Carrie Raymond had two hits apiece for Glenbard North.
