PR confident it can advance at sectional

Prairie Ridge’s Anna Patras, pictured catching a fly ball in a game this season, is part of a formidable top of the order for the Wolves. Prairie Ridge faces South Elgin at 4 p.m. today in an IHSA Class 4A Woodstock Sectional semifinal. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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Capturing the program’s first regional title was one on a long list of goals Prairie Ridge’s softball team wanted to accomplish this season.

Advancing in the Class 4A Woodstock Sectional, which begins at
4 p.m. today at Bates Park in Woodstock, is another.

The Wolves will face South Elgin, winner of the Streamwood Regional last week, and a team that beat Prairie Ridge twice in a doubleheader April 25.

But facing a team that already has defeated the Wolves does not concern Prairie Ridge.

This Wolves team has a goal – making an appearance in the state finals next weekend – and is fresh off winning a regional that featured some of the area’s best talent.

Although the Storm are a daunting team, the Wolves (31-6) continue to improve, coach Mike Buck said.

“I would like to think we have,” Buck said. “I think one of the biggest things is that it hasn’t been a season of extremes. We’ve tried to keep everything even-keeled, and I think for the most part we have.

“We were ready to face the challenge of being in a very tough regional where nearly every team has over 20 wins, and hopefully getting through that, which was very difficult, will work to our advantage.”

Prairie Ridge shut out a talented and offensively strong team in Crystal Lake South to win the Wolves’ first regional crown, with junior ace Johanna Turner keeping the Gators’ bats in check.

Turner (29-4) delivered another strong performance in the regional semifinal against McHenry, beating the Warriors, 5-4, in an extra-inning showdown between the two Fox Valley Conference division champions. Prairie Ridge went undefeated to win the FVC Fox Division, and McHenry claimed the FVC Valley Division title.

Turner owns a 1.48 ERA heading into today’s matchup with the Storm and has issued 17 walks while fanning 237 batters in 203 innings. Turner also has thrown three no-hitters, including two perfect games.

“You have to throw strikes, and Johanna has done a nice job with her pitches this year,” Buck said. “If she’s hitting her spots [today], she’s going to be pretty tough.”

The Wolves have complemented their defense with an equally strong offense. Lexi Wachman, Anna Patras, Erika Trojan and Lauren Seegers have proved to be a formidable top of the order.

Seegers had three RBIs in the Wolves’ win against the Gators, and Wachman scored two of Prairie Ridge’s four runs.

The bottom of the Wolves’ order is only slightly less dangerous. Erin Smith has come through with clutch hits, Katie Schillinger drove in the winning run for Prairie Ridge against McHenry in the regional semifinal, and each batting slot seems to house a hitter capable of delivering.

“Everyone expects the top of the lineup to do well, and they have; they’ve carried us in many situations,” Buck said. “But periodically we have some girls in other spots in the lineup who come up with big hits, and it’s nice to get contributions from that part of the order, as well. That’s how teams make it through the postseason: When everyone contributes.”

Huntley also will vie for a shot at a sectional title. The Red Raiders picked up their second consecutive regional crown behind pitcher Sam Clemons, winning the Guilford Regional.

Clemons (23-10) held DeKalb to five hits and two runs in the regional final Friday to win, 3-2.

Huntley will face Hon-onegah in the other sectional semifinal at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Should the Red Raiders (24-12) and the Wolves each advance, they would face one another for a fourth time this year for the sectional championship at 10 a.m. Saturday.