The day after Bartlett had won its first softball super sectional, a high school sports Web site asked its viewers to pick the next Class AA champion.
Trouble was, Bartlett wasn’t one of the choices.
The Hawks consider themselves the “write-in candidate” in the race for the Class AA crown that begins Friday at Mizuno Field in East Peoria.
“A lot of people doubt us because we’re so young,” junior pitcher Lauren Wydra said of a 31-6 team that starts eight underclassmen — including two freshmen and two sophomores. “We are the first softball team to go Downstate in the (nine-year) history of the program. We don’t have the tradition of some other teams.”
But Wydra has gone 23-4 with a 0.52 earned-run average and 16 shutouts, including a no-hitter. In the postseason, she has five straight shutouts.
She’ll need her best stuff against Downers Grove South (31-5) in the 10 a.m. quarterfinal. Last year’s Class AA runner-up is averaging eight runs per game behind second-team All-Stater Zoe Sinner (.402, 11 homers, 38 RBIs), Lindsey Liermann (.427), sophomore Brooke Andresen (.388), Jamie Buckley (.386) and Kayla Gull (.381).
Bartlett’s offense revolves around sophomore Elizabeth Kay (.439, 14 doubles, nine triples, 32 RBIs) and sophomore Rachel Anello (.345).
Barrington (35-3) and ace Claire Voris (34-2) face Lincoln-Way East (31-7) and All-State shortstop Alisa Goler in the noon quarterfinal.
At 5 p.m., Resurrection and ace Hana Somogyi (25-1) take on Normal (29-7) and second-team All-Stater Amber May, averaging nearly 17 strikeouts per game despite pitching with a dislocated knee.
Oak Park (33-6) and All-State center fielder Alex Morocco (.553, 33 stolen bases) then will oppose Edwardsville (35-3) and second-team All-Stater Michelle Weems (.513).
