Crete-Monee rolls by Eisenhower

Updated: May 23, 2011 7:58PM

After Crete-Monee’s softball team failed to get much offense going its first time through the order Monday against Eisenhower, coach Sue Giannantonio was looking for her team to make adjustments.

The Warriors did, to perfection. Host Crete-Monee exploded for eight runs in the third inning, tacked on three more in the fourth and wrapped up a 12-1, five-inning win in a Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional quarterfinal.

“We pulled a big inning there in the third,” Giannantonio said. “I was proud of how our girls adjusted and we got some big hits.”

The Warriors (13-14) advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal against second-seeded Stagg.

In the third inning Monday, Crete-Monee broke what was a 1-1 game wide open, taking advantage of four errors by Eisenhower (5-20) to push across eight runs, six of them unearned. The Warriors sent 14 hitters to the plate in the frame.

Danielle Boldt delivered the big blow, driving a double to the left-center field gap to score Liz Frassinone (single) and Korie Poces (walk). In her second at-bat of the inning, Frassinone (3-for-4, 3 RBI) drove in Julie Finley (reached on error) and Melanie Lambert (walk) with a single to cap the scoring with the hosts ahead 9-1.

“I was trying for that line drive and it felt so amazing,” Frassinone said. “It feels great to come out here and win a playoff game.”

Lambert (3 walks, 3 runs) came up with a two-run double and Frassinone another RBI single in the fourth to account for the final margin.

Warriors starter Sarah Rizzo, a freshman, was in cruise control after a rough start to her playoff debut.

Adriana Aguirre tripled and scored on an error in the top of the first for the Cardinals, but Rizzo allowed just two more hits the rest of the way. All told, she allowed one unearned run, struck out seven and walked two.

“I tried not to get ahead of myself and just throw strikes and let my defense back me up,” Rizzo said. “I’m so proud of my team.”

Giannantonio is hoping Rizzo can take some momentum into Wednesday’s game.

“Sarah pitched a very good game,” Giannantonio said. “She needed that going into the Stagg game.”

Chelsea White tripled and scored in the first for the Warriors. Rebecca Romero and Hayley Walters each singled for Eisenhower.

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