Softball: Tinley Park Shuts Out Oak Forest, Advances to Sectionals

The score: Tinley Park 1, Oak Forest 0, in the regional final Saturday, May 25, at Oak Forest High School.

The way it happened: On a crisp, overcast afternoon where pitching dominated, the only run of the game came early on a tough-luck play. In the bottom of the second inning with a runner on third, Titans freshman Megan Laib hit a soft, floating looper over Oak Forest second baseman Kylie Powers.

Powers drifted with the ball, and as the sophomore stretched out, she snagged the ball in the webbing of her glove. But as she fell to the ground, the ball popped out of her glove and was ruled an error.

The runner on third scored on the play.

The big plays: Tinley's second-inning run-producing play was clearly the biggest play of the game, but an argument still could be made for a pair of bases-loaded situations by both teams late in the game.

In the top of the fifth inning, Oak Forest threatened to at least tie up the game with bases loaded and only one out. But Tinley Park held tough and escaped the inning without any runs being scored. The Titans then had a similar chance to break things open in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Tinley loaded the bases, but the Bengals escaped the jam unscathed.

The highlight reels: Oak Forest junior center fielder Calie Delisi made a nice outfield catch, running into the fence in the fourth inning, and Tinley junior third baseman Samantha Alberto had a nifty line-drive grab to end the game in style for the Titans.

The standouts: The pitchers from both teams had impressive outings Saturday. Titans senior Sarah Gillespie gave up only three hits over seven innings in the win. But she was outdone by her losing counterpart, Bengals senior Emily Larsen, who allowed only one batter to get a hit. Where did Tinley's baserunners come from then? The three errors by the Bengals, compared to the Titans' one.

What it means: Tinley Park now advances to the state sectional in Coal City to face Lincoln-Way West, which beat Marian, 7-1, in the regional final Saturday. Oak Forest is eliminated from the postseason.

Coal City Sectional Semifinal

Who Plays: Lincoln-Way West vs. Oak Forest
When: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28
Where: Coal City High School, 655 W. Division St.

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