C-G won’t get ahead of itself

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All season, the Cary-Grove softball team has taken its season one pitch, one out, one inning and one game at a time.

The mindset propelled the Trojans to the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship, their first conference title in more than 17 years, and helped C-G win its first IHSA regional title since 2007.

That focus kept C-G grounded during its Class 4A Huntley Sectional title game Saturday against Jacobs when the Golden Eagles knotted the score late in the game. C-G won the program’s first sectional title in the eighth inning on a walk-off three-run homer by sophomore Taylor Dunne.

C-G coach Tammy Olson said playing the game one moment at a time will be what sends the Trojans to the state semifinals this weekend in East Peoria. They will face Elk Grove Village at 7 p.m. today in the Judson University Supersectional in Elgin.

“We’re going to stick with our game plan,” Olson said. “We have to play solid defensively and hit the ball, obviously, but we’re not treating this game any different than any other game. Of course the payoff is greater, but we’re going to look at it as another game.”

Elk Grove Village enters with a 35-4 record after beating West Chicago, 4-3, in Monday’s Class 4A St. Charles North Sectional final, which was postponed Saturday because of rain.

The Grenadiers have ridden pitchers Stephanie Maday, a senior, and Dani Goranson, a sophomore, through the playoffs. Maday earned the win against West Chicago on Monday.

C-G (32-6) will counter with freshman pitcher Lindsay Efflandt, who has dominated during the postseason. She started the playoffs by throwing a perfect game against Crystal Lake South in the Class 4A Cary-Grove Regional semifinal and has allowed two runs in four playoff games.

Dunne, Efflandt, senior first baseman Abbe Wienckowski, junior center fielder Alexis Haley, freshman catcher Sarah Leudo and junior right fielder Eleni Polites all have had hot bats during the playoffs.

Despite making the incredible run, the success has not overwhelmed her team, Olson said.

True to the form that has helped them thus far, C-G has curbed its celebration, knowing its work is not over.

“They’re ready for it and at the end we’re going to enjoy whatever happens,” Olson said. “I’m proud of the kids and how they’ve handled all the pressure so far. They’ve really come together as a team to make this happen.”