Softball: Fenwick routs Proviso East in regional semifinal

Updated: May 22, 2012 7:49PM

Fenwick scored early and often as the regional hosts downed Proviso East 18-0 in five innings to advance to Saturday’s championship game in River Forest.

Fenwick (18-13), the No. 3 seed in the Trinity Sectional, jumped all over No. 14 Proviso East (0-19) from the beginning, scoring 12 runs in the first inning — eight of those tallies coming before the Friars registered a hit. Pirates pitcher Natalie Solice walked five in the frame and was the victim of five errors behind her before consecutive singles by Ashley Parenti, Jess Mrozek preceded a two-run triple off the bat of Friars pitcher Olivia Soja.

Jenna Cairo, Parenti, Mrozek and Soja each crossed the plate twice in the inning. Soja started on the mound and allowed just one hit, to Danyell Clark in the first, and fanned four in two innings of work. Val Perrilli pitched the final three innings and fanned seven Pirates.

Fenwick coach Jen Butler said a blowout is not always something a team wants at this stage of the season.

“In a game like this you try to stay within yourself and not do things like swing at bad pitches off a pitcher who is throwing a lot of balls,” Butler said. “It can also have a negative effect on your mental game at the plate. I told them to stay focused, stay within your zone and swing at strikes. With the big lead, we worked on things like the fake bunt slap and some other specific situational plays.

“But one of the positives is that you can get your non-starters some action. The backups need game experience and have to be ready to play if called upon, so this provided them with a chance to step in and be comfortable in a low-pressure game. Our goal is to get your second lineup in as much as possible during the season because you never know when you are going to need them.”

Fenwick will face the winner of Wednesday’s Lane-Lincoln Park contest for the regional championship at 11 a.m. Saturday.

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