Neuqua Valley Takes Care of Business; Defeats Hinsdale South

In the Downers Grove Regional, the Hinsdale South Hornets battled the Wildcats for a chance to advance into the championship.

Although there was a layoff of weather cancellations, neither team looked as if they were rusty from the extended two days of rest.

After it was said and done, Neuqua Valley (19-9) took care of business in six innings as they defeated Hinsdale South 11-1.

Neuqua Valley starting pitcher Jena Boudreau (11-9) went the distance picking up the win. Boudreau tossed six innings, allowed one run on six hits, struck out four and walked no one. Boudreau added her bat going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two-runs scored and a double.

“I knew they had strong hitters,” Boudreau said of the Hinsdale South lineup. “I needed to make them hit bad pitches. (Neuqua Valley sophomore catcher) Rebecca (Lincoln) called a great game. (Lincoln) sometimes would call three changeups and have the next batter with three fastballs. I had to keep them guessing at the plate.”

Hinsdale South scored their lone run in the first inning. Hornets junior Lindsey Schwarz reached base on a single. Hinsdale South senior starting pitcher Cecie Portillo (2-for 3; RBI) drove Schwarz in on a two-out single to lead 1-0.

However Neuqua Valley responded after senior Amanda Mener reached base on a fielder’s choice. Boudreau brought around Mener on a line-drive double to gain the lead 2-1.

In the second inning, junior Kat Widup and Mener connected on a single and a two-run double respectively stretching their lead to 5-1 after two.

“We’ve been struggling with hitting the last two weeks,” said Neuqua Valley coach Melissa Wilson. “With all the rain, we’ve been hitting indoors and it paid off. I always tell the girls ‘if we don’t hit, we don’t win.’”

After Boudreau relinquished one-run on three hits in the first inning, she got into a groove. In the second through sixth innings, Boudreau allowed three hits and shut Hinsdale South out.

Neuqua Valley opened the gate wide in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats connected on six-consecutive hits and scored five runs.

Hinsdale South (18-15, 9-3) left six runners stranded, including two in scoring position during the third inning. The Hornets were never able to recover from the large deficit.

Hinsdale South standout players were junior Lindsey Schwarz (2-for-3; run scored), senior Cecie Portillo (2-for-3; RBI) and sophomore Brooke Dodson (2-for-3; stolen base).

“We just didn’t have it today,” said Hinsdale South first-year coach Kelly Van Hout. “We got off to a good start, but we just didn’t capitalize on opportunities. I think we’ve drastically improved this year. The younger kids are going to have big shoes to be filled, and the seniors will be missed.”

Hinsdale South loses seniors Amy Narotsky (attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Cecie Portillo (undecided), Aleah Tyrcha (College of DuPage) and Cori Coleman (Brandice University in Boston, Massachusetts) to graduation.

Neuqua Valley moves on to face off against Regional host Downers Grove South for the title. The two haven’t met this year, but Wilson has a good idea from their games last season.

“(Downers Grove South) is an awesome hitting team,” Wilson said. “They do a great job and work hard. We have to play the way we did (Friday) to win. It should be a great game between us (Saturday).”