By Randy Whalen

Success can be measured in different ways.

The Joliet Central softball team had a successful season.

Yes, the Steelmen's official record is listed at 2-30, the same as last year. But on the field, they were 6-26. They self-forfeited four games after finding out they had used an ineligible player in four wins.

However, that was an internal issue and doesn't detract from what was accomplished on the field.

"On the field, this is three times as many wins as last year and the same amount of wins as we had in the past three seasons combined," Joliet Central coach Jon Rashid said. "The girls had a positive attitude all year."

That positive attitude showed through on Monday, May 26, in a Memorial Day special postseason game. That was a quarterfinal matchup in the Class 4A Lincoln-Way Central Regional. It was at home, so it was the last ever scheduled varsity game for the Steelmen at their classic softball field, with the Metra Train tracks running above the right field wall.

Next season, they will move to a nice new turf field with all the modern conveniences. 

But the final game at the old field was a success as Joliet Central outlasted T.F. South 20-14 to move on to the regional semifinals.

It was the first postseason victory for the Steelmen since defeating Thornton 16-1 in a regional quarterfinal in 2021. 

"It means a lot," Steelmen senior Victoria Godinez said. "The last two years we lost (in the regional quarterfinal), so knowing we won means something to me and our seniors."

There were only four seniors on this season's team. Sienna Ibarra, Elizabeth Meza, and Paiton Pilgrim also graduated. 

A neat thing about the T.F. South game is that Joliet Central's best player, Haydn Voss, wasn't there, and the team still had a big win.

The Red Wolves (4-28) scored five runs in the top of the first and led 5-3 at the end of one. They still led 9-6 in the middle of the fourth. But Joliet Central put up five in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. The Steelmen added seven in the fifth for an 18-10 lead, and T.F. South never got closer than five the rest of the way. 

Sophomore Emma Guethle led Joliet Central with four hits, including a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Pilgrim (3 runs, 2 RBI), freshman Jordynn Poke (4 runs, 3 RBI), junior Yazlene Jacobo Sosa (2 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 runs), and sophomore April Vaksdal (2 runs) all had three hits. Elliana Fowler had two hits with a double, three runs scored, and two RBI, and fellow junior Sophie Litsogannis added a double and two RBI. 

Litsogannis was also key in the circle for the Steelmen. She hadn't pitched too often this season but came up big when needed in her 12th appearance with a complete game against the Red Wolves. She allowed 14 runs, eight earned, on four hits, with 11 walks and six strikeouts.

"When I walked up this morning coach asked me, 'Are you ready to pitch?'" Litsogannis said after the game. "Cameron Salazar was out with a sprained finger, and I just learned then that I'd pitch. I was surprised but excited. I wanted to be there and I was happy to help the team.

"I knew I had to reset, take a deep breath, and fight for the team. They definitely helped me and had full belief in me. This is the highlight of everything so far."

The next day, Tuesday, May 27, the Steelmen saw their season end in a 15-0, four inning loss to host Lincoln-Way Central. Knight senior pitcher, Bella Dimitrijevic, who was named as The Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois for Softball for the second straight season, fired a perfect game with 10 strikeouts. 

Lincoln-Way Central (34-2), which was ranked No. 1 in the state all season, was upset 2-0 in 10 innings by host Lockport Township in the sectional final. 

"It was all about the experience," Rashid said of facing the Knights. "No girl on this team had won a playoff game. So they gained some experience and played one of the best teams in the state."

While Voss wasn't there for the T.F. South win, she certainly showed up this season. In her third year as a varsity player, who has been at many positions, she had her best year yet. As a result, she was not only named All-Southwest Prairie Conference, but she was also named the MVP of the SPC East Division. 

So with Voss and many others expected back next season, the Steelmen softball surge should continue.

"I really like our team," Godinez said following the T.F. South win. "Everyone is talented and quirky in their own way. I'm going to miss being on this team."