Perhaps because they were so familiar with Stratford pitcher Lauren Brady, the Memorial softball team was almost desperate for a fast start Friday night.

According to catcher Suzanne Beltran, her team felt an early lead was imperative if the Mustangs were to earn a share of their third consecutive district championship.

“We were just trying to score a lot of runs in the beginning. We wanted to focus on that and wait ‘til the end because we have a tendency to do that against Stratford,” Beltran said. “We’ve been doing that lately. We’ve been hitting well. We just wanted to come out strong. We’ll take three runs (in the first).”

Memorial was simultaneously patient and aggressive, drawing two walks and smacking two hits off Brady in the first to score three times en route to a 5-1 victory that assured the Mustangs (16-10 all, 12-2 district) a share of the championship.

Beltran doubled twice as Memorial outhit Stratford 9-5.

“For our kids especially, it’s always fun to beat Stratford because there’s such a great rivalry,” Memorial coach Tina Young said. “I’m excited for them. Our seniors get to continue their season. I just hope we can make a really good run. But now we look ahead … and figure out where we go from here.”

MacArthur defeated Nimitz Friday night, giving the Mustangs the No. 1 seed out of 19-5A for the upcoming bi-district tournament. The Mustangs likely will play Chavez, which should be the fourth-place team in 20-5A.

Dates and times for that series were not immediately available.

Had Nimitz won Friday, Memorial would have had the No. 2 seed because the Mustangs were swept by Nimitz in two regular-season meetings.

The loss eliminated the Spartans (13-12, 7-7) from postseason contention because Spring Woods defeated Northbrook and clinched the fourth and final berth from 19-5A.

Leslie LeJune and Megan Slattery walked to start the Memorial first, then Beltran brought LeJune home by smacking a double down the left-field line. Slattery advanced to third and scored on Hannah Gentry’s sacrifice groundout.

Blanche Schwabenland singled to short, scoring courtesy runner Mackenzie Meador.

Asked if Memorial looked like it would cruise, Young lamented the Mustangs scoring only two runs the rest of the night.

“Unfortunately that was the case,” Young said. “I was kind of hoping we’d continue pouring it on but Stratford came out and they were so competitive. I’ve got to give them credit for hanging tough. They made some big plays. We hit the ball well up and down our lineup and to be held to five runs means they did a great job.”

Brittany Chaney singled in Taylor Stewart for a 4-0 lead in the fourth, and Beltran’s fifth-inning double preceded a fielder’s choice and Schwabenland’s second RBI single that made it 5-0.

Stratford scored its only run in the sixth. Rachel Darragh singled to start the inning, advanced to third on two sacrifices and scored on Erin Jackson’s infield single.

Subscribe to this comment's feed