Softball: New Trier captures regional title with a six-run inning

Updated: May 26, 2012 7:02PM

The New Trier girls softball team broke open a scoreless game with five straight sixth-inning hits en route to a 6-0 win over Glenbrook South in Saturday’s Class 4A New Trier Regional final in Winnetka.

Trevians’ catcher Molly Morrison doubled in two runs to get the hit parade started in the home team’s big inning. New Trier’s Brigit Ieuter was masterful throughout, going the distance and improving her record to 20-3.

“The pressure was on us,” New Trier head coach John Caldwell said. “Glenbrook South played a great game. The pressure mounts in a game that is 0-0. Our girls stayed in it. We were hitting the ball well, but not placing it where we wanted to. (Morrison’s) hit sort of opened up the floodgates.”

No. 1 seed New Trier (30-5) advances to Wednesday’s Niles West Sectional semifinal where it will face Loyola.

In the bottom of the sixth, Morrison’s double was followed by an RBI single by sophomore Katie Schade, an RBI double by Mimi Morris, an RBI single by Jackie Stern and an RBI double by Megan Neuhaus.

“We knew we were right there the whole game, everyone was making contact, we were just missing it. I think we were ready, any inning, to just break it open,” said Ieuter, who actually started the sixth-inning rally with a one-out single.

On the mound, Ieuter scattered five hits, struck out six and walked just one.

Glenbrook South (14-21) was without its No. 1 starter Jen Zucker, who bruised an ankle recently. Sophomore Katie Rossman was solid on the mound for five of the six innings she pitched.

In the top of the sixth, Rossman singled and third baseman Yassie Giliana walked with two outs, but the young Titans couldn’t bring them home.

“We talked about putting the ball in play, keeping the score down to zero, and (if we did) anything could happen. I think we did that.” GBS head coach Kay Sopocy said. “Other than when the wheels fell off, (Rossman) was phenomenal (on the mound) and we played great defense. It was one of our better games, and I don’t think the score was indicative of the fight we put in.”

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