Lisle falls to Morrison

Updated: June 3, 2011 8:30PM

Lisle was inches away from playing for a state softball championship.

With Shelby Kretman on second with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lisle first baseman Stephanie Petkovsek drilled a shot that appeared destined for right field.

Morrison’s first baseman Danielle Stralow, a 5-11 three-sport star, used her length to snare the ball and turn a spectacular double play at second. “Fortunately I’m tall and I was able to reach it,” Stralow said. “You could see their momentum decrease and we fed off it the other way,” she said.

Morrison (30-7) used Stralow’s momentum changing play to pound Lisle ace Bekka Houda for five runs on six hits in the top of the eighth inning in pulling away for the 9-4 victory in the Class 2A state semifinal at EastSide Centre Friday afternoon.

The Lions drop to the third-place game Saturday afternoon against the loser of the Shelbyville and Alton Marquette second semifinal.

“It’s a game of inches, and we were a play away from playing a state championship,” Lisle coach Jen Pomatto said. “The 9-4 score was not really indicative of the game or how well our girls played.”

The Fillies’ eighth inning explosion marked the game’s final and most significant swing. Lisle (28-5) rode the brilliant hitting of junior third baseman Mackenzie Buchelt to jump out to a 3-0 lead through three innings.

Buchelt (3-for-4, 2 RBI) blasted three doubles in the first, third and sixth innings, respectively.

Her first inning drive into right center scored Summer Stitt from second. Melanie Early appeared caught in a run down but scored on an errant throw by the Morrison catcher.

Buchelt swelled the Lions’ advantage to 3-0 in the third inning with a mammoth shot to dead center that hit the wall and scored Early, who reached with a single.

“I been struggling hitting the ball in the postseason,” Buchelt said, “but I knew I could do it and I settled down. It’s unfortunate the game got away from us, and we couldn’t get the timely hits, because the 9-4 score was not really an accurate score of the game.”

Houda (21-3) retired the first nine Morrison batters. The talented and deep Morrison team found its hitting groove beginning in the fourth inning. Freshman centerfielder Shannon Finneran blasted a solo home run into left field to knot the score at three-all in top of the sixth. Morrison took its first lead, 4-3, moments later on Stralow’s RBI single.

Buchelt responded by leading off the Lions’ sixth inning with another double. With Abby Tarasecwicz pinch running, she scored on designated hitter Kelly Brennan’s single into left center. “I really thought after we came back and tied that we’d be able to keep the momentum,” Buchelt said.

After Stralow’s seventh inning heroics, the Fillies wore down Houda. She masterfully pitched out of a jam after Finneran opened the seventh with a double. In the oppressive humidity, she appeared fatigued and worn out.

Morrison tagged Houda for six extra-base hits, including two backbreaking doubles in the eighth inning. Finneran, Stralow and Allie Wiersema drove in two runs apiece for the Fillies. Christie Wiersma (17-2) pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and striking out six.

“We have deep hitters 1-9, and they really feed of each other,” Morrison coach Tammy Deter said. Houda surrendered 12 hits. She stuck out six and allowed just one walk in going 7 2/3 innings.

“She threw 116 pitches, and I think fatigue was a factor in that eighth inning,” Pomatto said. “I went out to the mound and asked here what she was throwing they kept hitting, and she said, ‘Everything.’ When you’re throwing well and they’re still hitting everything, it’s very deflating emotionally and physically.

“She’s going to come back strong tomorrow. She’s going to pitch the third-place game. I told the kids: ‘Our goal was to win a state championship. That’s not in the cards anymore.’

“We’re going to go out and play hard to win a third-place trophy.”

In Class 1A, Danville Schlarman eased past Hardin Calhoun 3-2 in 11 innings. They face Monmouth United, who defeated Toledo Cumberland 1-0, in the state championship game Saturday morning.

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