If it wasn't broken ...

Lisle advanced through playoffs with same lineup that got more successful

The Lisle Lions stuck with what worked in getting to the supersectional.

Coach Jen Pomatto employed the same lineup every playoff game, and in each contest, the offense was more productive.

The Lions (27-10) scored six runs in their regional semifinal, five first-inning runs in that final and topped those totals with an 8-0 win against St. Edward in the Lisle Sectional opener May 28.

They followed that up with a 10-1 win in the sectional championship against Walther Lutheran two days later.

Lisle clinched the sectional title despite being no-hit for the first four innings by Broncos freshman Dee Dee Kruckenberg (6-8).

Lisle scored once in the first without hitting safely.

"My assistant coach kept (saying), 'It's gonna be OK,'" Pomatto said. "I was hoping to get one more run, because I knew we wouldn't give up any more."

Lions freshman Melanie Early struck the big blow in the sectional final when she smacked a two-run double for a 3-1 lead.

"I knew she was pitching me outside," Early said. "It felt really good to get that hit and start off that rally."

Lisle scored four in the fifth and added five more in the sixth. Walther Lutheran finished 12-19.

Defensively, Lisle's battery of pitcher Bekka Houda (18-8) and catcher Colleen Drennan also has remained constant. Aside from her stellar defense behind the plate, Drennan (2-for-3 against Walther Lutheran) has hit in the No. 3 hole. Houda fanned 10 on May 30.

May 28's sectional semifinal win over the Green Wave (19-13) looked easy.

Houda struck out the side in the first in that game, then watched as her offense got things going.

Leadoff batter Tori Harris tripled into the left-field corner on a sinking line drive to start the bottom of the first. Drennan singled home Harris before Katie Harris (three hits and RBIs) drove home two more with a single.

Lisle got three in the first, two in the fourth and three in the sixth.

"Our goal has been to score early and score often," Pomatto said. "That was something we talked about in practice this week. I think we only had one 1-2-3 inning (against St. Edward)."

Houda was pleased with her teammates' early offensive support.

"That makes me feel really confident," she said. "I know I can count on my offense to be there."

Lisle banged out eight hits and benefited from five Green Wave errors.

"We made some mistakes today defensively but none that mattered," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "You have to give Lisle credit; they played a better game."

Green Wave starter Sarah Field (19-9) had her work cut out from the outset, given Houda's dominance.

Houda allowed one hit through the first six, finishing the game with 12 strikeouts. Field and Veronica Rolando each singled in the final inning.

"I still felt really strong," Houda said of the seventh. "I was just a little more wild. My snaps weren't as hard."

Field and Rolando also were the only two St. Ed batters not to strike out.

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