PEORIA — Some of it was sweat. But there were also some noticeable tears.
Senior right-hander Abby Brueggmann wiped her eyes several times after the biggest pitching win of her high school career for Lincoln-Way West. Her emotions were definitely flowing.
You might call them tears of validation.
“Sometimes, I didn’t really think that I was good enough to pitch in these kind of games,” Brueggmann said. “It’s great to make it there and know that our team is good enough.
“And I’m good enough.”
Brueggmann was more than good Friday, lifting the Warriors to a 2-1 upset victory over Marist in a Class 4A state semifinal game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
The St. Xavier recruit struck out four and stranded eight for Lincoln-Way West (29-7). St. Ambrose commit Reese Forsythe added a key triple, while NC State commit Reese Rourke stole home.
Maddie Rogers, Notre Dame recruit Layla Peters and Saint Louis recruit Ellie Holmstrom each had two hits for Marist (36-2). Wisconsin commit Soleil Tate struck out six.
Lincoln-Way West will play Mundelein (23-5) at 4:45 p.m. Saturday for the state title.
“This is so great,” Brueggmann said. “We’ve got some great leaders on this team, a lot of seniors. We got past the best team. We’re looking to win, get the job done.”
On March 30, Marist scored plenty of runs while beating the Warriors 11-5. If nothing else, that painted the RedHawks as a heavy favorite for the rematch.
But that’s not what the Warriors were saying on the ride down.
“Our approach was to play loose and aggressive with nothing to lose,” Brueggmann said. “Every inning we kept winning, I think it got more tense for them. We wanted to keep going, keep playing.”
On Friday, the RedHawks puts runners in scoring position in every inning but one. But they only scored once, on a double by Holmstrom, followed by an RBI squeeze bunt by Alia Rowles.
Lincoln-Way West, meanwhile, scored in the bottom of the first on a double steal by Rourke and Paige Seivert and then in the third on a triple by Forsythe and a drive to the warning track by Seivert.
It would prove to be enough. It seemed, however, that every time Brueggmann looked over at senior third baseman Molly Finn, there was a Marist base runner in the vicinity.
“Yeah, oh my gosh, they hit the ball,” Brueggmann said. “I just did my best to stop the bleeding. Our defense being able to escape innings with runners on is something we’re getting good at.
“We really escaped innings in this game with our defense.”
Brueggmann did it herself twice. She delivered a strikeout with a runner on second to end the top of the fifth. She ended things with a strikeout in the seventh and a runner on third base.
“I didn’t care how we ended it — I just wanted to get out of that inning,” Forsythe said, laughing. “I was stressing a little bit. I was just so happy at the end.”
It was hardly a surprise to Forsythe.
“I’m really honored to be catching Abby,” Forsythe said. “We have an amazing connection. I always tell her, ‘You’ve got this. I’m there for you. You have a tough ‘D’ behind you. Just pitch.’ And she does her job.”
With courage? Lincoln-Way West coach Heather Novak would say yes.
“Abby has faced a number of tough lineups, and obviously Marist’s lineup is extremely tough,” Novak said. “I think she not only trusts herself but enjoys her teammates and trusts them to make the plays.
“Her growth over these past four years and for her to have the ball in those moments is really amazing. This whole postseason we have been in close games, had to make good pitches, and make plays defensively. And we have. It’s been fun to watch.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
