Softball: Marist romps past Trinity, into 4A semifinals
By Tony Baranek tbaranek@southtownstar.com June 4, 2012 9:34PM
Marist's Nicole Babrowski (3) goes to make the throw to first against Trinity. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 7, 2012 8:35AM
Marist did a lot of knocking in the second and third innings of Monday’s Class 4A Rosemont Supersectional against Trinity, only to come up with nothing.
In the fourth, the RedHawks finally broke through. And just like the volleyball team in the fall, they ended years of softball frustration by earning the program’s first trip to state finals weekend.
They did it with authority, using a seven-run fourth to put the hammer on Trinity 8-3.
“Oh, my gosh, amazing,” Marist’s Brooke Wyderski gasped. “What can I say? The (volleyball team) deserved it, too. But I think we worked hard.
“We’re all just so happy. I can’t believe it right now.”
The victory earned Marist (25-15) a Class 4A semifinal meeting with Elk Grove at 2:30 p.m. Friday at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Elk Grove (31-8) beat Jacobs 4-1 in the Judson University Supersectional.
Wyderski had a lot to do with Marist reaching a new height with two hits, including a two-run triple. The sophomore shortstop also made a spectacular catch on a liner in the Trinity seventh, doubling a runner off second base and driving a stake into the middle of what was shaping up to be a big rally by Trinity (30-8).
The RedHawks had beaten the Blazers and pitcher Chase Machain 8-2 in March. They went down in order in the first inning Monday, but twice had the bases loaded in the next two frames with no outs and one out, respectively.
“It was bittersweet, but the fact that they were getting on base I knew it was just a matter of time,” Marist coach Denise Bromberek said. “We were hitting her well, and I said to them after the third inning that we would have another opportunity to maximize it.”
They went industrial-size with a seven-spot in the fourth, Ashlynn Kokaska leading off with what would be eight hits. The big ones were Wyderski’s triple, a two-run double by Brooke Wilson and an RBI single by Haley Richy.
Three of seven Trinity errors resulted in an eighth Marist run in the fifth. The Blazers broke through with an RBI single by Nicole Evans in the sixth and an RBI triple by Abby Ramirez and an RBI double by Ashley Klauss in the seventh.
Marist’s Kristin Klutcharch threw five scoreless innings in earning the win.
