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Softball: New Trier’s Morris puts the heat on Loyola
Skokie Wednesday 05.30. Loyola third baseman Maddie Hahn attempts to tag New Trier baserunner Mimi Morris (2) during their sectional playoff game on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Niles West High School in Skokie. Morris was safe at third base with a triple. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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With the quality of New Trier starting pitcher Brigit Ieuter, along with an earlier defeat to the Trevians, the underdog Loyola softball team understood the importance of seizing an early lead against New Trier entering Wednesday’s Niles West sectional semifinal.
However, Mimi Morris scored in the first inning and set the stage for New Trier’s 5-1 win on Wednesday.
Ieuter retired Loyola in order to start the game. In the bottom of the first, New Trier leadoff hitter Morris pulled in Loyola’s defense by showing a slap hit early in her at bat before swinging away and driving the ball to the fence for a triple.
“I think it (scoring first) gives us more confidence,” said Morris, who reached base in all four of her plate appearances. “We beat Loyola before, so I think that kind of scared them that we were scoring in the first inning.”
Loyola pitcher Jamie Kiefer, who only allowed one hit before New Trier (31-5) broke the game open with three runs in the sixth inning, struck out 11 Trevians. While Kiefer (17-4) pitched well, the Ramblers’ defense struggled to deal with the pressure New Trier’s offense applied throughout the game.
Loyola (27-8) committed four errors. Morris reached on an error to start the third inning, stole a base and then gave New Trier a 2-0 lead when catcher Brooke Kehoe’s attempt to throw out Morris at third bounced away from third baseman Maddie Hahn.
“When you’re the underdog in a game, you want to get up,” Loyola coach Marty Jennings said. “You want to get up right away and we weren’t able to do that. What I like about (New Trier) compared to the other teams we’ve played is they put a lot of pressure on you. They force you to be really, really strong defensively and if you make mistakes they’re going to capitalize on them. We made a few early and give them credit. Their best ballplayers had great games today.”
New Trier advances to the Niles West Sectional final. The Trevians will play the winner of Thursday’s sectional semifinal between Maine West and Glenbrook North at 11 a.m. Saturday.
