Hardie powers Gators

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McHENRY – Kaitlin Hardie only hoped that Thursday would be the start of a positive postseason for her and her teammates.

Last year, Crystal Lake South’s softball team made an improbable run to the IHSA Class 4A Northern Illinois Supersectional, defying critics’ expectations, but Hardie, plagued with an ACL tear, could only watch South’s
glory from the bench.

So when Hardie’s double in the third inning Thursday against Jacobs led to three South runs and eventually gave the third-seeded Gators a 3-0 win against the No. 2 Golden Eagles in the IHSA Class 4A McHenry Regional semifinal, the senior shortstop was giddy with excitement.

The Gators (22-9) will face top-seeded Prairie Ridge at 4:30 p.m. today in the regional final.

“This means the world to me,” Hardie said. “I can play this year, and that makes this [postseason] so much more special. What last year’s team did was amazing, but this is a completely different team, and I hope everyone on this team can experience what we all got to experience last year.”

It was with that goal that Hardie stepped into the batter’s box for the second time Thursday against Jacobs freshman pitcher Katie Kirker (4-1).

Kirker had retired two batters, but an error allowed Vickie Pyan to reach and Sammie Hardie singled to put runners on first and second for Kaitlin Hardie.

She took advantage of the situation. The double to deep left field drove in Pyan, who had stolen third, and a Jacobs fielding error allowed Sammie and Kaitlin Hardie to score, as Jacobs struggled to get the throw to home.

“I didn’t even see that anyone was struggling with it; I just ran,” Kaitlin Hardie said. “I really didn’t think I would get a double out of it because [Jacobs left fielder Brook Frederiksen] looked like she was camped underneath the hit.”

“If you’re going to make a mistake, the worst runner to have on base is Kaitlin,” South coach Scott Busam said. “She’s just such a smart base runner. She knows exactly what to do out there.”

Jacobs (20-13) did not have many scoring opportunities against South pitcher Emily Mahoney (16-8). The senior hurler threw three innings of no-hit ball before giving up a single to Jenna Teson (2-for-3) in the fourth.

But the Gators’ defense turned double plays in both the fourth and fifth innings to help Mahoney and when Jacobs threatened in the sixth, with Teson and Cassie Bencal each on base, Mahoney induced a flyout to end the inning.

Sara Jacobson knocked a ball over the fence with one out in the sixth that could have put the Eagles on the board, but the official ruled it foul.

Jacobs beat the Gators twice during the two teams’ three regular-season meetings this year, so to lose when it mattered most was difficult.

But the Eagles exceeded everyone’s expectations for this season, coach Jeremy Bauer said.

“We overachieved when everyone thought we might be mediocre,” Bauer said. “I was very proud of these girls and very pleased with what they were able to accomplish.”