Evergreen Park Eager for Softball Showdown with Oak Forest

Evergreen Park softball pitcher Michelle Putlak has taken her game to new heights for the playoffs.

On Thursday, the junior won her third straight playoff game as the Mustangs defeated Joliet Catholic Academy 3-1 in the semifinals of the Oak Forest Sectional.

“I’ve never been to the playoffs before, so this is a new thing,” Putlak said. “But it feels really good to be doing well and I’m glad that we have a good stride going right now.”

Putlak helped her own cause with a two-run double in the fourth inning, and Megan Beckow added an insurance run with an RBI double in the fifth. The Mustangs led 3-1 entering the seventh, and Putlak closed out the game from there.

“I just went in there and I prayed. I’m not going to lie—I prayed.” Putlak said.

And that final out?

“It felt really, really good,” she said.

Evergreen Park will take on Oak Forest today in the championship round of the Oak Forest Sectional.

Earlier this year, Evergreen lost to Oak Forest, 4-1.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Evergreen coach John O’Connor said. “They’re a great team. It’s an honor to play them. I knew if we got this far they were going to be the ones waiting for us, so I’m happy. I like to play the best.”

Mustangs Complete Successful Track Season

The Evergreen Park boys track and field team concluded its season at last weekend’s state meet in Charleston. While the team didn’t score any points, the Mustangs accomplished a lot this season, highlighted by a sectional championship—the first in the program’s history.

“The season was a success. Any time you get 9 kids to run at the state meet it is a huge accomplishment,” coach Ray Mankowski said in an email.

At the state meet, the team came close to getting some athletes into the finals. Victor Baker and Chris Cheatham both fell in the hurdles, and according to Mankowski, both would have made it to the finals if not for the falls. Cheatham tripped over the second-to-last hurdle while in the lead, while Baker tripped on the last hurdle while in third place, and the third-place finisher qualified.

“It was heart wrenching to watch them doing so well and then falling but I told them the only positive thing we have is in 365 days you will be back here. The future is still bright,” Mankowski said in the email. “I am very proud of all that we have done this year and knowing that we can still do better keeps me focused on how good we can be next year.”

McAuley Ready for Richards

Mother McAuley’s softball team takes on Richards today in the Morton Sectional championship game at 10 a.m. The Mighty Macs defeated Trinity on Thursday 6-5. Here’s the IHSA Class 4A bracket.

EP, Rice Baseball Seasons End

The Evergreen Park baseball team concluded its season last Saturday with a 4-1 loss to Joliet Catholic Academy in the JCA Regional championship game. Also on Saturday, in Homewood-Flossmoor Regional championship game.