Elk Grove uses clutch pitching for sectional championship game win

The Grenadiers move on to Tuesday's super sectional game against Cary-Grove at Judson College in Elgin.

Published By John Juettner on 6/07/2010

The Elk Grove softball team displays it’s sectional championship plaque.
Story and Photos By: Charlie Burroughs
      In the final inning Elk Grove sophomore pitcher Dani Goranson smiled after giving up a bomb home run to center field, closing her and the Grenadier’s lead to one run in the sectional finals.
      She then composed herself after a mound visit, and forced a pop fly two batters later. She then struck out the final West Chicago Wildcat batter looking, giving the Grens a 4-3 win Monday evening, like they have so many times this year, on the backs of Goranson and senior Stephanie Maday.
      “That’s a big part of the game, what is in the circle,” Elk Grove coach Ken Grams said. “And our girls have been this little tandem for two years, we split ball games, and they’ve been getting it done.”
      However, the Wildcats put the pitching duo on the brink twice in the game. In the third, Maday found herself with the bases loaded after two infield errors and a walk. Maday, pitching under pressure, snagged a line-drive shot by Wildcat infielder Jen Konchar hit at her ankles and forced the out at first. Similarly, in the fifth Goranson was stuck with the bases loaded, one run scored, and only one out. At the time Goranson and the Grens still held onto Maday’s lead 4-2. Within four pitches Goranson was able to finish off the Wildcat’s fifth hitter with her changeup, and the sixth hitter on three consecutive strikes.
      “We both buckle down,” Goranson said. “Maday and I are strong pitchers and we can pitch under pressure very well.”
      The home run in the seventh by Wildcat pitcher Mary Connolly was an at-bat the Grens tried to avoid all night. Previously Connolly was walked twice and on her previous appearance she reached on a single.
      “People have been walking her all year,” West Chicago coach Emily Johnson said. “They didn’t reinvent the wheel on that one.”
      Grams said one of the most important outs of the game was the batter before Connolly, whom Goranson was able to force into a pop out. Goranson was able to work a two-out double off Connolly in the fourth to score senior Amanda Gattone, an insurance run she wouldn’t realize would be so important until later.
      Maday recorded the win with one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Goranson gave up two runs on four hits and three strikeouts. The Grens added another run off a hit by Gattone in the fifth scoring sophomore Megan Keegan from third.
      It’s hard to imagine smiling after giving up a home run in the final inning that traveled over the adjacent baseball field fence. Goranson and her coach just knew better.
      “I knew we had it,” Goranson said. “Coach told me to shake it off. It didn’t mean anything. We were still up, and I got to get two outs, and we did.”

The Elk Grove players are all smiles after defeating West Chicago for the St. Charles North sectional championship.