Neuqua halts Hinsdale South’s season

Updated: May 27, 2011 7:53PM

It may take Cecie Portillo a few more days to forget how her high school career ended.

The senior shortstop drove in Hinsdale South’s only run in its season finale when her single up the middle scored Lindsey Schwarz in the top of the first inning. It would be the only highlight of the game as seventh-seeded Neuqua Valley thumped 10th-seeded Hinsdale South 11-1 in six innings Friday in the Class 4A Downers South Regional semifinal.

The Wildcats (19-9) will play second-seeded Downers South in the regional final at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Portillo was one of four senior starters to play their final game for first-year coach Kelly Van Hout. Portillo was the regular No. 3 hitter for the Hornets (18-15).

“It was a great season. I love the girls. I’m going to miss them,” Portillo said. “Obviously, you wish we could have had more fight into it instead of getting slaughtered most of the way out.”

Hinsdale South trailed 5-1 until the Wildcats scored five runs in the fifth inning off senior starting pitcher Amy Narotsky to break the game open. At least five Wildcats players had multiple hits starting with Brooke Meyer (3-4, double), Kat Widup (3-for-4), Jaime O’Brien (2-for-3), Jena Boudreau (2-for-4) and Amanda Mener (2-for-4).

Boudreau was the winning pitcher and allowed six hits. She struck out four batters and did not allow a walk.

“It’s great. All year our biggest struggle is hitting,” Neuqua coach Melissa Wilson said. “We played every single day for two weeks in a row. With the rain, we hit inside. I told the girls, ‘If we hit, we win.’ We hit one through nine. If a team can do that, it’s unstoppable.”

Neuqua will play Downers South for the first time this season. The two teams were scheduled to meet earlier, but the game was cancelled due to poor weather.

Portillo ended her career with fellow seniors Narotsky, Aleah Tyrcha and Cori Coleman. The foursome became the first seniors to play for Van Hout. Portillo played two varsity seasons. She is looking to continue playing softball at the Division III level.

“We definitely had to make a lot of adjustments with my fellow seniors,” Portillo said. “We got used to the new coaching staff and they had to get used to us.”

Van Hout led the Hornets to an unexpected winning season. Hinsdale South went 9-3 in the West Suburban Gold to finish in second place behind Downers South. Perhaps the highlight to the Hornets’ season was a 7-2 win over Downers South May 11 in Darien.

“[The seniors] will be missed,” Van Hout said. “They were talented players. They definitely have big shoes that hope to be filled. They had the attitude and the spirit to welcome the [coaching] transition. We were well received.”

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