Although important, pitching is only one piece of the puzzle when building a championship ballclub.
But with the ball in sophomore pitcher Brittany McIntyre’s hands, it becomes the centerpiece.
McIntyre turned in a commanding one-hit performance while facing only 22 batters as Sandburg (29-8) defeated Lyons 3-0 for the Andrew softball sectional title.
“We played a great all-around game,” Sandburg coach Randy Couwenhoven said. “We had timely hitting, solid defense, and there’s not much more I can say about Brittany. She was just outstanding again.”
Sandburg scored two runs in the second when Erin Cunningham belted a single to center field and Amy Peters tallied a run-scoring single in the third to complete the game’s scoring.
“It was nice to get the early lead, but I knew I couldn’t relax,” McIntyre said. “Lyons is a good hitting team.”
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But Lyons failed to get their bats going. The Lions finished the season 27-9.
“The kids are disappointed, but they shouldn’t hang their heads,” Lyons coach Dawn Schabacker said. “We had a great run, but today we came up against an excellent team and a pitcher who has been dominating all season.”
Sandburg will meet Belleville West in the state quarterfinals Friday.
Barrington: Ellen Stoddard threw a one-hitter and struck out nine as Fremd (30-7) shut out Stevenson 5-0 to go Downstate for the first time since 1997. Stoddard, who also went 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs, did not give up a hit until the seventh inning, the only ball to leave the infield. Stoddard ran her record to 19-4 and has not given up an earned run in her last 59 innings pitched.
“Coming in today and playing like we did against a team as tough as Stevenson was just so awesome,” Stoddard said.
Kristin Kwasniewski knocked in the first run of the game with a second-inning double.
Becky Van Bramer chipped in by going 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
“I felt like this game kind of balanced the universe,” Fremd coach Rob Harris said. “It was very sweet and satisfying to beat a good Stevenson team that has been a thorn for us the past three years.”
Stevenson (29-7) went Downstate in both 1998 and 1999, beating Fremd in the sectional title game in 1998.
East Moline: Alexis Johnson and Lindsey Erickson combined for a one-hitter as Moline (28-6) blanked Freeport 4-0 in the title game. Heidi Holstrom went 3 for 3 with an RBI to lead Moline.
O’Fallon: Heather Hubert hurled a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts as Belleville West cruised past Edwardsville 10-0 in five innings for the sectional championship. Hubert struck out the last nine hitters she faced. Lauren Roney went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Randi Beare had a run-scoring triple to lead Belleville West.
Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin: Jilian Widick struck out 11 without issuing a walk as Normal West (28-9) edged Chatham Glenwood 3-0.
Jodi Bauer and Nicole Reed each drove in a run as Normal West advanced Downstate.