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Sports

Lions One Step Away from State After Taking Sectional Title

Kellie Brennan's bases-loaded double in the sixth propels Lisle's softball team to a 3-1 victory over St. Edward in the sectional championship. The Lions travel to Seneca on Tuesday for the supersectionals.

On Friday, coach Jen Pomatto told Kellie Brennan that she was going to get the start in left field when the Lions faced Elgin St. Edward for the sectional championship Saturday morning.

The Lisle junior experienced some bouts with nerves leading up to, and during, the contest. But when she stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and her team trailing 1-0, she exhibited the coolness and confidence of a seasoned veteran player.

Brennan picked on the first pitch from St. Edward right-hander Sarah Field and laced a bases-clearing double. Brennan’s hit stood up as Bekka Houda set St. Edward down in order in the seventh for the 3-1 victory and the Lions’ third straight sectional championship.

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The Lions travel to Seneca on Tuesday for what will be their third consecutive Class 2A supersectional appearance. They’ll face the Coal City sectional winner (either Seneca or Momence). The Coal City sectional championship game takes place on Memorial Day.

“I keep telling the girls that our motto all year has been one game at a time,” said Pomatto, whose Lions knocked St. Edward out of the playoffs for the third straight year. “I told them to enjoy today (Saturday), tomorrow (Sunday) enjoy the families and Monday we come back and practice and get ready for Tuesday.”

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Houda and Field were locked in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through the first five innings, although Lisle had a runner thrown out at the plate in the second inning and another forced at home in the fourth.

St. Edward tallied the game’s first run in the top of the sixth on a passed ball that plated pinch runner Darcy Gaige from third.

Trailing for the first time in postseason play, Pomatto had a short meeting with her players between innings.

“We knew we were going to have to score to win, and so I just told the girls to be patient,” she said. “We’ve been hitting her (Field) hard; we’ve been putting people on base. We faced her earlier in the year and we knew what she could throw. We knew that if we were able to work the count, we’ll be able to put the ball in play.”

Melanie Early walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and MacKenzie Buchelt followed with an infield hit. Grace Riley then reached base on a fielder’s choice, which set the stage for Brennan’s heroics.

“First pitch, and you can’t ask for anything more than that,” Pomatto said of Brennan’s double. “Our three and four (hitters) hadn’t been hitting, but they got their way on and that’s when I kind of told them I don’t need them to hit home runs; I need to get baserunners.”

Houda gave up only three hits and struck out six to pick up her 20th victory of the season (20-2). She got through a base-loaded, no outs jam unscathed in the second by retiring the next three St. Edward hitters—two on strikeouts.

“I can’t say enough about her,” Pomatto said. “I think she’s been pitching great. The one thing that people will notice and I’ve commented on quite a bit: When Bekka came to us as a sophomore she really had to work on her mental game. She had the bases loaded early and she shut them down, and that is exactly what we need from her.”

Brennan and Riley both doubled and singled for the Lions (27-4), while Buchelt contributed two hits.

The Lions are hoping that the third time’s a charm on Tuesday. They’ve been denied a trip to state each of the past two years, falling to Morrison in the 2010 supersectional and to Coal City in 2009.

“I’m really excited,” Brennan said. “This is my first year on varsity and this is my first supersectional so I’m really excited.”

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