Christy Sykora let out a little secret why she has become one of the hottest hitters in the postseason:
Her dad has stopped making the Sandburg right fielder so nervous.
Sykora ripped the game-winning double Friday night in leading No. 2 Sandburg to a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Oak Park in the Class AA quarterfinals at the EastSide Centre.
Sandburg (33-6), which has finished fourth, third and second the last three years, will face defending champion Normal (33-2) Saturday in a semifinal showdown between All-State pitcher Ali Arnold of Normal and the Eagles’ second-team All-State pitcher Brittany McIntyre.
And through it all, Pete Sykora will try to keep his voice down when his daughter is at the plate.
“My dad and I weren’t getting along because he made me so nervous yelling at me during games,” Sykora said. “So I made him stay away during the regular season. He started coming to games at regionals and hasn’t yelled once. I’ve been so much more relaxed and calm this season.”
In six playoff games Sykora is batting .636. In her last five games, she has either driven in or scored the winning run.
“Look at how small I am–do I look like an offensive power?” said the 5-foot-4-inch Sykora. “Coach [Randy Couwenhoven] told me to relax, swing at the first pitch if it’s good and hit it where it’s pitched.”
Sykora’s double drove in Meghan Gallagher, who had singled to lead off the third.
Oak Park (33-2) and its potent offense was held in check by McIntyre, who gave up three hits and struck out eight.
The Huskies’ only threat came in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second, one out. McIntyre struck out Mary Kolbusz and induced Becky Martin to pop up to end the game
“It’s going to be exciting to face Normal and Ali Arnold again,” said McIntyre, remembering last year’s 2-1 loss in 14 innings for the Class AA championship. “It’s not about revenge or anything.
“We’ve already finished fourth, third and second, so we won’t be satisfied with anything but first place.”
