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WestAthleticFeatureStory

By Randy Whalen

The Joliet West softball team has produced many excellent players over the years.

Unfortunately, one of them came back to haunt the Tigers as a coach.

Taylor Schwall, who was instrumental in helping Joliet West to a third-place finish at state in Class 4A as a senior in 2019, completed her first season as head coach at Plainfield South.

The Cougars ended the Tigers' season with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday, May 28, in the second semifinal of the Class 4A Joliet West Regional. 

"I was nervous but excited," Schwall said of facing her old school in the postseason. "We were 1-1 with them in the (Southwest Prairie) Conference, so it was exciting and a huge win for my girls.

“It’s a little bittersweet coming here. I attended school here and was a senior the year we placed third in the state. It’s hard to see the Tigers lose, but Plainfield South is my school now, and I love this program and these girls.”

Two days later, on Friday, May 30, the No. 7-seeded Cougars put up a fight, but lost to No. 2-seeded Lincoln-Way East 9-5 in the title game of the Joliet West Regional. Lincoln-Way East lost 3-0 on Thursday, June 5, to host Lockport Township in a sectional semifinal. 

The No. 3-seeded Porters then upset top-seeded Lincoln-Way Central 2-0 in 10 innings the next day to win their second sectional championship in three seasons. 

Joliet West (8-22), which played Lockport in the regional title game last year and defeated the Porters to win the sectional in 2019, had a frustrating season but looks forward to the future.

"We got better," Joliet West coach Heather Suca said. “We had a lot of young players who got a lot of experience this year. We were playing our best at regional time, and that’s what you want.” 

Plainfield South (18-16), which handed Oswego (35-2) its first loss with a 3-2 road win on May 5, split two Southwest Prairie Conference meetings with the Tigers this season. The Cougars won 5-2 at home on April 17, but Joliet West prevailed 4-0 at home on May 13.

That was one of six victories in the final 10 regular season games for the Tigers. So they were optimistic entering the postseason matchup. That showed when they scored three runs in the top of the first.

Freshman Caitlin Jadron got things started with an infield single, then senior Hope Hughes drew a walk. Junior Ella Featherston grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Jadron forced out at third. Then sophomore Madi Woods came up big with a double down the right field line to score Hughes and Featherston. Senior Alaina Grohar then singled to score Woods for a 3-0 lead.

"The first inning was amazing, it was exciting," said Joliet West freshman Gabi Juarez, who got experience pitching this season. "We had beaten them once before, so we had to take advantage. There was a lot of hope."

But the Cougars, who batted as the home team since they were the higher seed, responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to tie it. A double by Ava Forsberg scored fellow seniors Kendal Pasquale and Regina Glover (2-for-2). A single by junior Gracie Semega scored Forsberg, who was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBI.

In the second, Glover walked, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Forsberg. But the Tigers tied it at 4-4 in the top of the third. With two outs, Grohar, Juarez, and senior Madison Jadron (RBI) singled.

But senior pitcher Hailie Boardman gave up three hits the rest of the way, and Joliet West couldn't score again.

The Cougars pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Gianna Zumdahl led off with her second hit of the game and was doubled home by Pasquale. They added an unearned insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Forsberg, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a single to center by Boardman that turned into a 3-base error when it rolled to the fence.

A 0-9 start wasn't what the Tigers wanted this season. But they showed they could play with good teams when they got their initial victory of the season. That was a 4-2 home win against Providence on April 11. The Celtics (24-11) won a Class 3A sectional and were facing defending Class 3A state champion Pontiac on June 9 in the Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional. 

But Joliet West expects to have many back next year. Juarez is one of them and looks forward to it.

"I feel confident, and I was happy to see the same people here," she said. "Now I know how it is to play in high school. I hope for better things, but I loved just being able to know the girls and having the excitement."

There were only four seniors on the team. Jessica Cole, Grohar, Hughes, and Madison Jadron.

“We had a lot of young, impact players," Suca said. "We only had four seniors, so we should have a lot back with five starters and two pitchers. We had a pretty rough record, especially early in the season, but these girls never quit. 

"They came ready to play every day, and that’s all you can ask as a coach."

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