Softball: Third Time a Charm for Olson, Sandburg

Touching All the Bases: Sandburg and Lockport met for the third time this season and the second time at Lockport High School. The two teams split the season series, but that didn't matter on Wednesday when the they were playing for a ticket to the Class 4A Lockport Sectional title game. The Eagles defeated the Porters the last time they visited, and this time was no different. The Eagles only needed one run to beat Lockport 1-0 in a tense showdown.

Sandburg scored the game's only run in the first inning. Candice Koch roped a single in the gap between second and third. Lizzie Wojtowoicz followed with a sacrifice bunt. Lexi Bryant came up with a chance to bring Koch home. Bryant hit what seemed to be a routine one-hop line drive to third, but Lockport's Allison Foley mishandled the ball and threw it past first baseman Allie Phad. Koch hustled around third and scored. And that was it.

Sandburg mustered three more hits but never put another runner on second base after Bryant reached on the error. Lockport's best chance came in the top of the seventh with two outs. Ashley London singled and Jenn Bond reached on a rare error by Jess Perkins, but Olson found her composure and retired Tierney Bottino to finish the complete game three-hit shutout.

Patch MVP: Sandburg's Lora Olson scattered three hits over seven innings and struck out eight.

Sandburg Leaders: Candice Koch (1-for-3, single, run, reached on fielder's choice); Lizzie Wojtowicz (1-for-2, single, sacrifice bunt); Kelly Sheridan (1-for-2 with a single); and Briana Fanning (1-for-2 with a single).

Lockport Leaders: Kelly Bowler pitched well in relief, giving up three hits over four innings and striking out two. Lia Romeo (1-for-3, double); Ashley London (1-for-3, single).

Quotable I: Sandburg coach Jim Fabianski: "Olson did what she needed to do to keep us in the game. We took advantage of the mistake they made. It's a lousy way for (Marissa Chovanace) to end the season because she's an awesome coach and that's an awesome team, and they hit us hard last time. Olson was lights out, and we played great defense until the last inning."

Quotable II: Sandburg pitcher Lora Olson: "They are our rivals. We were very pumpped for this game. I'm happy that we all worked together. If I could have chosen any team to play, it would have been this one."

Team Records: Sandburg is 27-6. Lockport finishes 27-11-1. 

What's Next: Sandburg will play the winner of Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Andrew on at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Vikings play the T-Bolts at 4:30 Thursday at Lockport.