What a difference a year makes
Lisle Lions win regional final as their hot streak continues
ELMHURST -- A year removed from a 5-20 season, the Lisle Lions are headed to their sectional.
Lisle (25-10) added another game to its promising 2009 campaign with a 5-1 win over Immaculate Conception on Saturday in the Timothy Christian regional final. The victory set up Thursday's game with St. Edward at Benedictine University.
Finalizing the win Saturday required nerves of steel. The Knights (15-17) played their toughest inning since the first in the top of the seventh to make a game of it late.
"I said to the girls that I didn't want to end the game 5-0," Lions coach Jen Pomatto said. "5-1 was not what I meant."
Lisle left six runners on base throughout the game. Pomatto, of course, meant that she had hoped her team would bring more of the runners home.
Bekka Houda (16-8) stranded two Knights in the first after Immaculate Conception saw two of its first three batters reach base. Houda escaped that inning by striking out the next two hitters.
The sophomore showed her poise in the final inning also. Nina Vlahiotis doubled in the lone Knights run with a booming double to left-center.
Houda quickly regrouped to strand a pair of runners in scoring position and strike out the final Knights batter to seal the win. She won her last start in the T-C sectional May 19 with a two-hit shutout.
In the regional final, Houda allowed four hits and a walk while fanning 13.
Said Knights coach Kim Arman, who filled in for head coach Tim Chandler:
"She definitely pitches in and out, up and down. She's a quality pitcher."
"Both Bekka and Melanie (Early) are the saviors of this team," designated player Katie Harris said. "They get us going."
And the offense got itself going in the first, when the Lions put up a 5-spot. Though two Knights errors helped, Lisle banged out three hits and drew two walks in the inning. Breanne Prindeville (1-for-3) capped the scoring with an RBI double.
Harris, who walked, stole second and Liz Todd gave Lisle a 4-0 lead on her sacrifice fly. Early, who also had walked, scored on the Todd fly ball.
Harris finished the day 1 for 1 officially with a pair of walks. Her patience in the No. 6 slot helped set the tone for the team.
"If it's not there, I won't swing at it," she said.
She also took time to compliment the team for its giant steps this year.
"We've all grown up so much from last year," she said. "We're tighter as a team."
With freshmen filling out three defensive spots up the middle (shortstop, second and center field), the Lions have looked anything but wet behind the ears.
Now, Lisle is addicted to winning.
Erin Dunne threw six innings, allowing only two earned runs. She no-hit Timothy Christian in her previous sectional start.
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