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Sports

Lisle Softball Advances to Final Four

The Lisle softball team avenged back-to-back Elite Eight losses the last two seasons by shutting down Momence 6-0 Tuesday afternoon at the Class 2A Seneca Supersectional.

SENECA--Summer Stitt set the tone on the very first pitch of the Class 2A Seneca Supersectional softball championship Tuesday afternoon.

The Lisle shortstop drove the opening pitch of the Lions’ showdown with Momence into left field for a leadoff single.

Stephanie Petkovsek followed with an infield single, and Mackenzie Buchelt brought them both in after a sacrifice bunt by Melanie Early with another shot to left field.

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It would be all Lisle and ace pitcher Bekka Houda would need in advancing to the state semifinals Friday afternoon in East Peoria to face Morrison as the Lions dispatched Momence 6-0.

“We knew we would have to come out hitting,” said Petkovsek. “This is our third straight year in the super sectional. We have been waiting for this game all year.”
“We were ready for this (game),” added fellow senior Tori Harris.

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Houda was masterful for the entire game, striking out the side in the second inning while en route to taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Danielle Anthony broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff single for Momence in its half of the sixth, but she was one of only three base-runners on the day for the Redskins, who had their season end at 24-8.

“I don’t have any words to describe how excited I am,” said Houda, who did not allow Momence a runner past second base in improving to 21-2 on the season. “To have the girls basically give me a two-run lead before the game even started was such a lift. They have had my back the whole year (on offense and defense).”

Lisle coach Jen Pomatto cautioned her squad not to become too complacent with the two-run first at-bat.

“We had to come out and score,” Pomatto said. “We could not be satisfied with (two runs).”

Grace Riley made sure the Lions (28-4) were not satisfied with their early cushion.
Petkovsek coaxed a leadoff walk to start the Lions’ third, and the senior moved to third on a gorgeous bunt single by Early and a deep drive to center by Buchelt.
Riley laced yet another hard single to left to plate Petkovsek for her second run of the game and a 3-0 lead for Lisle.

The Lisle lead could have been far greater were it not for three inning-ending plays by Momence middle infielders Veronica Henry and Stacey Newberry.

The duo saved a minimum of four runs over the first five innings, but Lisle left-fielder Maggie Corrigan ended all suspense  to the eventual outcome when her single down the left-field line scored Buchelt and pinch-runner Jess Calloway.
With Houda conversely mowing down the Redskins’ batters, Lisle was en route to its first state tournament berth since 2007.

Harris’ theft of home in the sixth was the Lions’ final run.

“(My players) put too much pressure on themselves,” Momence coach Katie Denny said.

Grace had three of the Lions’ 10 hits to lead the offensive attack for Lisle.

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