Mersch nears record, Downers South advances

Updated: May 28, 2011 11:30PM

Downers Grove South outfielder Marissa Mersch collected two more hits Saturday, moving within three of the state record for career hits.

But what mattered more to the Wisconsin-bound leadoff hitter were her three runs batted in, two of which came on her two-out, bases-loaded double in the bottom of the third inning. That hit, the 249th of her career, put Downers South ahead to stay in its 11-7 victory over Neuqua Valley at the Class 4A Downers South Regional championship game.

“Obviously the bases-loaded hit (meant more) because it’s a team effort and we can’t do it with one person,” Mersch said. “I’m not going to be selfish about anything. I do it for the team and not myself.”

Mersch finished 2-for-4 with a walk and was robbed of another hit when Neuqua Valley shortstop Brooke Meyer made a great diving catch with her back to the infield. Mersch is hitting .758 with runners in scoring position and has six home runs, 42 RBI and 12 stolen bases for the Mustangs (27-6), who will face Naperville Central in the Oswego East Sectional semifinals on Thursday.

“She comes up big,” Downers South coach Ron Havelka said. “She’s done that all year for us. She’s only gone 15 games in her high school career without a hit and she’s had 78 multiple-hit games. Wisconsin is getting a great little player.”

Mersch’s big double keyed a four-run rally that gave the Mustangs a 7-4 lead after the Wildcats (19-10) had scored three times in the top of the inning to grab a one-run lead.

Downers South tacked on three more runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Chelsea Lavin and a run-scoring triple by Jackie Tonoff. Neuqua pulled within 10-7 on a three-run homer in the sixth by Leigh Nebendahl but could get no closer.

“Something that I’m always proud of our team (for) is we always fight to the end,” said Neuqua coach Melissa Wilson, who pulled starting pitcher Jena Boudreau in the second inning after she was called for six illegal pitches. “With nine seniors graduating I’m trying to find the right words to say. I’m so proud of them because they never gave up.”

Meyer led the Wildcats by going 4-for-4 with an RBI, while Sarah Gronowski drove in two runs. But Gronowski was victimized three times by Lavin, who caught three of her line drives to left field, including an outstanding catch on the dead run in foul territory with two on and no outs in the fifth.

“That was a huge play,” Havelka said. “(Lavin) has improved unbelievably. She’s a great defensive player. We can play her anywhere. She’s probably the best overall athlete on the whole team. She’s fantastic and this year she’s been hitting well.”

Lavin, who will play softball and tennis at Augustana, was 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Aleisha Bozek (13-3) got the win in relief and went 3-for-4 for the Mustangs.

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