Johnson’s walk-off blast lifts JCA

Updated: May 28, 2011 4:55PM

Tori Johnson of Joliet Catholic hit line drives to the outfield in her first two at-bats that were caught and sent her back to the dugout.

In her final at-bat, Johnson sent everyone home with a no-doubt-about-it walkoff dinger that gave Joliet Catholic a 1-0 victory Saturday over Lincoln-Way West in the Angels’ Class 3A Regional championship game.

“I was trying to hit it as hard as I can,’’ Johnson said of her eighth-inning homer, her fifth of the season. “As soon as I hit it I knew. For some reason I just felt all game I was going to get a home run.’’

Johnson’s ecstatic teammates rushed to home plate as the senior shortstop rounded the bases with the run that sends Joliet Catholic (23-12) to the Oak Forest Sectional Thursday to face Evergreen Park in the semifinals.

“Indescribable,’’ Johnson said. “I can’t believe I just hit that and I can’t believe it’s over after eight innings. It’s the biggest hit I’ve ever had.’’

“It was high and it was still rising,’’ Joliet Catholic coach Dave Douglas said. “You hit it over that scoreboard, that’s a pretty good poke. That’s 220, 225 feet out there.’’

Senior Ashley Searing pitched a complete game for the Angels while her brother, Nate, did the same for the baseball team across the parking lot on Gillespie Field.

“When we hit the eighth inning, I was praying that somebody would hit the ball and they wouldn’t make the plays in the outfield,’’ Searing said. “It was a great game. It was exciting.’’

Searing yielded six hits with three strikeouts and one walk and said her screwball was her best pitch Saturday.

“It was a great game,’’ Lincoln-Way West coach Heather Novak said. “Give credit to JCA. Their hitter got all of that ball. But my girls played hard today and all year long.’’

Lincoln-Way West freshman Erin Miller was impressive on the mound, walking only one batter and pitching out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fourth inning.

“Erin pitched a great game besides that one pitch,’’ Novak said. “As a freshman, for her to be in this experience, we’re looking for her to grow and get better.’’

“They did a great job,’’ Douglas said. “They kept us off balance all day.’’

Lincoln-Way West (17-15) finished only its second varsity season and its first with seniors. Leadoff hitter Alex Carr (2-for-3, double) is the only senior and has played shortstop, third base and catcher.

“She was huge for us this year and kind of helped establish things in the program,’’ Novak said. “All these kids are coming back and we’re excited for what the program has in store.’’

Meanwhile, Joliet Catholic moves deeper into the postseason.

“We haven’t played Evergreen Park, but we scouted them a few times so we’ll have some idea,’’ Douglas said. “And then you get to that sectional championship and anything can happen.’’

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