Warren sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Weidemann took charge of the moment.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning Thursday, the 5-foot-1 Weidemann immediately waved off all her infield teammates. As the pop-up started drifting away from her and closer to first base, Weidemann stayed with the ball and remained focused on ending the game.
Weidemann calmly caught the final out to secure the Blue Devils’ 10-2 win against Mundelein in a Class 4A regional championship game in Gurnee.
The Blue Devils (20-5) won their eighth consecutive regional title and advanced to play Prospect in a sectional semifinal back in Gurnee at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Prospect defeated Warren’s North Suburban Conference rival Stevenson 8-2 on Thursday.
On the final play against Mundelein (11-11), Weidemann thought the ball was coming down in the middle of the infield but was prepared to get to it regardless.
“I have to be the captain of the infield, so I called it and stayed with it and made the play,” she said.
Weidemann made a difference at the plate too. She had two hits, including a two-run double down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth.
Weidemann is one of a handful of new faces who played a vital role in leading the Blue Devils to another 20-win season. Even with her relative inexperience, Weidemann made countless big plays throughout the season.
“I’ve practiced a lot and have confidence in the position and in my ability,” she said. “It feels great to contribute, and hopefully we can continue staying hot and make a run at it. I’ve just had to raise my competition against the better teams.”
Warren coach Jenna Charbonneau said Weidemann’s effort in the field is contagious.
“Kaitlyn is a workhorse and gives it all in every throw and every swing,” she said. “She’s not giving half effort. She puts her all in everything and does everything we ask her to do. She’s scrappy and works really hard.”
Another sophomore, pitcher Sydney Jackson, handled the work on the mound. Jackson (13-2) allowed just single runs in each of the third and fourth innings in a complete-game effort.
Warren senior catcher Emily Craig said Jackson was instrumental in the Blue Devils’ third win of the season against the Mustangs.
“Sydney was on fire today,” Craig said. “Her screwballs were amazing on the inside corner. She was really hitting it today and stayed under 100 pitches.”
The Blue Devils scored five runs in the sixth.
“It was a great team win,” Charbonneau said. “Sydney worked her counts, and our defense really backed her up, and we had some nice plays. We had great base running and were aggressive.
“This is where we expect to be every year: moving on to the sectional. We’re looking forward to more summer softball.”
Emma Umbdenstock got the Mustangs on the board with an RBI fly-out to deep left field in the third. Makenna Wolf added a two-out double in the fourth.
“When you are playing good teams, you have to play your best, and we had a few offensive and defensive miscues,” Mundelein coach Kat McCreery said. “I just wish we could’ve played more of our games. Mistakes in the postseason can cost you bigger. Warren’s a great team.
“Both of our pitchers — Ashley Wolverton and Gaby Seleps — are sophomores and had not thrown one inning before this season. I’m very proud of them and the team. We had some ups and downs, but we came together as a team and fought until the end.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
