MK_060619

38 | June 6, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Fierke, Joliet West end Lincoln-
Way Central’s dream season early
STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor
Going into the Class
4A Thornwood Sectional
semifinal against Joliet
West on May 29, Lincoln-
Way Central’s softball
team was on a 25-game
winning streak which dated
back to April 6.
The Knights had beaten
their two regional opponents
by a combined score
of 26-0 and seemed untouchable,
destined to win
the sectional and perhaps
play at state.
Central coach Jeff Tarala,
though, knows how
quickly that can all change
in a one-and-done postseason
format.
“That’s the nature of the
playoffs,” he said. “One
bad day and it’s over. It’s
unfortunate, but that’s just
the way it goes.”
The Knights’ bad day
came, thanks in large part
to Joliet West sophomore
Savannah Fierke, who shut
down Central over nine innings.
The Tigers got a
two-run home run from
Lauren Russell in the top
of the ninth and beat the
Knights 2-0 at Providence,
where the game was
moved due to poor field
conditions at Thornwood.
“[Fierke] was absolutely
outstanding,” Tarala said.
“I made sure to tell her
so when we shook hands.
Usually against good
pitchers, we can get to
them the second or third
time through the order
with the very good hitting
team we have. It just didn’t
happen this game. I have
to give her credit.”
The Knights finished
32-3.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Melanie Nelson swings at a
pitch during the Knights’ 2-0 loss to Joliet West in the
Class 4A Thornwood Sectional semifinal May 29 at
Providence.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Amanda Weyh delivers a pitch
in the Knights’ 2-0 loss to Joliet West. Weyh did not
allow an earned run in nine innings. PHOTOS BY STEVE
MILLAR/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Central’s Amanda Weyh
matched Fierke most of
the way. She did not allow
a base runner until the
sixth inning and struck out
nine. An error in the ninth,
however, extended the inning
and Russell made the
Knights pay with a towering
two-out, two-run homer.
Weyh, a Lindenwood
recruit, did not allow an
earned run in 18 playoff innings,
but cruelly saw her
high school career end anyway.
“Amanda only allowed
five earned runs all year,”
Tarala said. “She was outstanding
again. She was
the reason we were in this
game.”
The Knights had some
chances against Fierke,
but stranded 12 runners
on base, including eight in
scoring position.
“Amanda came up in
some big spots and there’s
nobody I’d rather have up
at the plate,” Tarala said.
“Ninety-nine percent of
the time she comes up
with that clutch hit. Carly
[Alvers] had a couple opportunities.
It just didn’t
happen for any of us today.”
The Knights struggled
with execution, popping
up several bunt attempts.
“Probably [nerves]
played into it a little bit,
and our girls probably
should have laid off some
of those bunts with the rise
ball coming, which leads
to pop ups,” Tarala said.
“It was probably a combination
of a few things, but
I think it’s more just their
pitcher doing a good job.”
The Knights graduate
just five seniors, but two
of them - Weyh and Ashley
Platek - were major
contributors for four years.
Gabby Gedville was huge
in the leadoff role this season,
and the other seniors
were Jaclyn Cismoski and
Julia Izzo.
“What the seniors have
meant to the program,
you can’t even put it into
words,” Tarala said. “They
were outstanding.
“With this group, I’ll just
look back at fond memories.
Thinking about bus
rides and those fun times.
Those are the little things
I’ll miss the most with this
group, because they were
such a great group.”
Softball
LW Central’s season
filled with highlights
STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor
Lincoln-Way Central’s
softball season ended earlier
than expected as the topseeded
Knights fell 2-0 to
Joliet West in nine innings
in the Class 4A Thornwood
Sectional semifinals.
Still, the Knights went
32-3 and won 25 straight
games before the loss to
the Tigers. There were
many memorable moments
along the way.
An opening statement
The Knights showed
it could be a special year
when they routed crosstown
rival and perennial
power Providence 9-0 in
their season opener March
22. Torince Muczynski
drove in three runs, while
Amanda Weyh and Ashley
Platek each produced two
RBI. Weyh and Syndey
Grein combined for the
shutout.
Alvers’ big day
Sophomore Carly Alvers
had a huge season hitting in
the middle of the Knights’
lineup. No performance
was better than the one she
put forth in the Knights’
10-0 win over Minooka at
the WJOL Tournament on
April 6. Alvers drove in
seven runs against the Indians,
going 3-for-4 with a
homer and a double.
Alvers said she had
good luck at Joliet’s Inwood
Complex, where the
tournament was held.
“I hit two home runs on
the same field once when I
was younger,” Alvers said
at the time. “I guess I like
playing here.”
Shutting down the
competition
The Knights shut out
their opponenets 18 times.
Weyh, Grein, Platek and
Olivia Flinn all got in on the
domination. While coach
Jeff Tarala utilized all four
pitchers for much of the season,
it was Weyh who took
control down the stretch.
Weyh threw all 18 of
the Knights’ playoff innings
and did not allow an
earned run.
She was quick to deflect
credit to her teammates.
“They always have my
back,” Weyh said. “I know
if I let someone put the
ball in play that they’re going
to make the play. That
makes it so much easier
on me. Our defense has
played great all season.”
Conference perfection and
regional champs
Central stormed through
SouthWest Suburban Red
play with a 12-0 record to
win its third straight conference
title. Only two of
the Knights’ league wins
came by less than five
runs.
After entering the 2018
postseason as the top seed
in their sectional only to be
upset by Minooka in the
regional final, the Knights
made sure they would get
their regional plaque this
year.
Playing at home, Central
beat Romeoville 11-0 in
five innings in the regional
semifinal and needed just
four innings to roll to a
15-0 victory over Plainfield
Central in the regional
final.
“It meant a lot to get the
regional title,” sophomore
Sydra Seville said after
the game. “This team is
special because we all get
along, we play for each
other, and we all do our
part.”