Marist’s Brianna Brown had a game Monday of which dreams are made.
The freshman outfielder singled in her first at-bat and scored the RedHawks’ first run.
She singled in her second at-bat and scored their second run.
In her third at-bat, she hit a sacrifice fly to drive in their fourth run.
Add it all up and Brown was the star of the show in a 4-1 victory over West Aurora in the Class 4A Sandburg Supersectional.
There were other heroes for the RedHawks (25-7), who will play Lincoln-Way East at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals.
Angela Zedak (19-5) pitched a five-hitter, striking out eight and delivering an RBI single. Lexi Voss had the game-winning hit for the RedHawks with a two-run single.
For Brown, the dream moments followed what began as a player’s worst nightmare.
West Aurora (31-8) had a runner on second with two outs in the top of the second when Gabi Nilles hit a lazy fly to center field.
Brown came in to make the play, but dropped the ball. The runner on second scored.
“I just lost my balance and I was on my heels,” Brown said.
After the inning, Brown appeared to be unshaken as she trotted to the dugout.
“You’ve got to just keep your head up,” she said. “It’s all about what comes next. I had to leave the last inning behind and just worry about what was coming up.”
Brown would have her first chance for atonement leading off the bottom of the third. She beat out a chopper to the left side. Two outs later, Zedak punched a ground single to left to tie the game at 1-1.
It was only the beginning.
With one out in the bottom of fifth, Brown hit a high chopper up the middle for a single. The bases were loaded when Voss ripped a line single that would put the RedHawks in front.
Brown never felt better crossing the plate.
“That was great,” Brown said. “I’ve never had a feeling so exhilarating. It’s great to be on a team like this and have such a great experience.”
Voss wasn’t far behind in the exhilaration department.
“Oh, that was amazing,” Voss said, laughing. “I went crazy. I struggled a little bit earlier, but I knew I had to do something.”
Zedak, meanwhile, stranded six through four innings, and put the side down in order in the fifth and sixth. West Aurora loaded the bases against her in the seventh, before she got the final batter on a soft liner to Alexis Rogers at third.
Rogers was a hero in her own right. West Aurora was already leading 1-0 in the third when she fielded a grounder and nailed a runner at home.
“With my arm I knew I could get her,” Rogers said, smiling. “I didn’t come up big at the plate, so I knew I had to play my part on defense. I will do anything to back up ‘Ange’ and go to state for my girls.”
Twitter @tbaranek
