It was so fitting that it ended with a strikeout. There had been so many before it.
And this time, junior right-hander Soleil Tate was able to finish what she started for Marist.
Call it relief. Call it vindication. But not necessarily for herself.
“I was just happy I could do it for my team,” Tate said. “It felt great that we were able to achieve something we weren’t able to achieve last year.”
The Wisconsin recruit was one of many stars Monday for the RedHawks in their 10-1 victory over St. Charles East in a Class 4A supersectional at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
Tate was nothing short of brilliant, pitching a one-hitter while striking out 13 for Marist (36-1). Maddie Rogers, Notre Dame-bound Layla Peters and Layla Termunde led the offense with three hits apiece.
The RedHawks didn’t score against St. Charles East (31-9) until the top of the third inning when they went up 2-0 on a triple by Rogers and back-to-back hits by Termunde and Peters.
Tate, meanwhile, had already set the tone by striking out the first five hitters she faced for the RedHawks, who will play Lincoln-Way West (28-7) at 2:30 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
“That definitely put us above and gave us confidence,” Tate said. “We knew we were in the game, and we weren’t backing down.”
A year ago, it was a bit different.
Tate was the starting pitcher for Marist in a 5-1 loss to Oswego in the Benedictine Supersectional. She didn’t finish that one.
“I think I was ready for it but the vibes were a little off,” Tate said. “Everybody talks about vibes, and I think I was maybe just a little bit off that game. I was just a little too nervous as a sophomore.
“The vibes were on (Monday).”
Were they ever. Tate did have one slipup on a pitch that St. Charles East’s Hayden Sujack, a South Carolina recruit, cleared the fence in the top of the fourth.
That made it 6-1. Michigan-bound junior catcher Lexi Kyros went to the circle.
“I said, ‘Who cares? It doesn’t matter,'” Kyros said. “One run was not going to hurt us. They needed to get five more and she wasn’t going to let that happen.
“Soleil was really grinding. We both got to Marist and we were both so locked in. She was hitting her spots and doing everything she possible could. She is doing incredible right now. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
For the season, Tate has a 26-1 record with 233 strikeouts in 148 innings. She has also played a huge role on offense, batting .509 with 54 RBIs.
Her temperament plays a big role, too.
“I try just being a good presence on the mound,” Tate said. “I know that even if I give up a home run in this game, I can come back and my team will have my back. They catch those foul balls.
“Mary (Fortner) will make a diving catch to save me. I just know they are there for me.”
Marist coach Colleen Phelan sees the fire.
“Last year hurt and hurt bad,” Phelan said. “She was thinking about it still all this season. (Monday) was a big day, and she came up big.
“She was ready. She was prepared. She wants this more than anything in the whole world, and she got it done. Soleil has six pitches that she works with and hits all of her spots perfectly.”
And deep inside?
“She’s a special, special kid,” Phelan said. “She’s probably one of the most team players that I have ever coached in my life. She doesn’t want this more than for this Team 24 that we’ve got going on here.
“Soleil loves this group, loves this team. It’s important to her.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
