ETHS Wins First Regional Softball Title

EVANSTON, IL — With a 3-2 walk -off win at home against Trinity High School, the Evanston Township High School Wildkits softball team won its first ever regional title. The 'Kits took an early lead and kept their opponents scoreless throughout much of the game before the Blazers equalized in the top of the seventh, forcing a dramatic conclusion.

After a scoreless first inning and a half, Evanston took a two-run lead in the second. Senior Jaden Janzen started the rally with a single, and she was followed by another by junior Meg Eisfelder. With two runners on, senior Gwyn Hodges smashed a stand-up double to the fence in deep right center field, scoring both.

The Wildkits defense was outstanding all game, according to coach Katie Perkins. Hannah Schaps, Hallie Cleland-Horn and Caroline Job each made huge defensive plays behind freshman pitcher Molly Chambers. Chambers threw a complete game win. She struck out five, walked one and hit three batters.

The score remained 2-0 to Evanston in the top of the 6th, when Trinity junior Juliana Morini slammed a deep home run to make it a one-run game. The Blazers had a chance to push on, but failed to get any more runs on the board after the 'Kits had loaded the bases on two hit batters. The inning ended on a routine infield play.

In the top of the 7th and final inning, Trinity managed to load the bases with two singles and a hit batter. Chambers had struck out the first and last batter of the inning and was one out away from the win, but a passed ball caused by a missed pitchout led to the tying run scoring.

In the bottom of the inning, Schaps started the inning with a lead off single. After a popped up sacrifice bunt, Job drew a walk. With runners on first and second, Megan Chambers struck out for the second out. A hard shot hit at 2nd base from Janzen loaded the bases for Molly Chambers. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Chambers smoked a pitch up the middle on the ground. Trinity's shortstop managed a diving play, but the runners managed to advance sealing the win for the Kits.

Coach Katie Perkins described her squad as "committed girls who sincerely enjoy one another. They show up to work hard and have fun doing it. " She said she was lucky to have coached each members of the varsity team during a previous season, either in high school or summer softball.

"These girls, this team, are setting a new standard for Evanston Softball," Perkins told Patch. "We are so proud, I am so proud, and it’s a great day to be a Wildkit!"

Evanston (21-11) now heads to a sectional semifinal match against top-ranked Oak Park-River Forest (32-1) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Niles North High School.

Top photo | Evanston Wildkits win regional final | Courtesy ETHS Athletics