Softball: Young cruises past Taft in Public League semifinals

Updated: May 18, 2012 8:30PM

Young sent a message to Lane during and after its 11-1, six-inning win over Taft in a Public League semifinal at UIC Friday night. The Dolphins will meet five-time defending city champion Lane in Saturday’s noon title game.

The Dolphins (14-15) split with the Eagles (22-15) during the regular season but were not surprised they were able to pull off the lopsided win.

“We knew we had to hit today and we have to do that tomorrow if we want to beat Lane,” said Dolphins second baseman Sam Kraus, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI. “I’m really excited. We have the players and we have the confidence and if we have our best game we’ll have shot.

“I knew if we hit we would win.”

Zoe Nykaza added three hits for the Dolphins while Stephanie Schreiber and Nikki Pietrus had two hits each. Maddie DiVittorio got the “take one for the team award” after getting hit by a pitch in each of her first three at bats.

The Dolphins put up three in the first, four in the third, two in the fourth and finished things off with one each in the fifth and sixth. A one-out bases loaded walk by pitcher Gabby Mejia to Clara Ledsky ended the game.

Meanwhile, pitcher Zoe Nykaza struck out four and allowed four hits, including an RBI double by Lety Rosales scoring Katie Bargo in the third for the only Eagles’ run of the game.

“We talked before the game and concluded that if everybody hits that we will be fine since Zoe will keep us in any game,” said Young coach Mike Hinrichs, whose team lost 5-4 in the semifinals to Lane last season and the two previous consecutive years in the title game.

“Taft is a very good ball club and we just came out and hit and Zoe was on the money today on the mound. We hope to break the tradition tomorrow.”

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