Suicide squeeze bunt in seventh proves to be game-winner.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Things don’t get much more dramatic than they did recently for the IC Catholic Prep softball team.
The Knights used a suicide-squeeze bunt in the top of the seventh to score the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory over Westmont to win the Class 2A Lisle sectional title.
IC Catholic Prep played in the Class 2A Rosemont supersectional on Monday at Rosemont Stadium against Beecher. If the Knights won they will play in the Class 2A state semifinals this weekend.
It was IC Catholic Prep’s second sectional title in the last three years under coach Frank Reaber.
In that seventh inning, freshman Brooklyn Campos laid down the squeeze bunt that scored a charging Kayla Faber-Cournane with what proved to be the game-winning run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Faber-Cournane got out of a first-and-third, two-out jam by inducing a Westmont batter into popping up to catcher Josie Lytton.
“It was pretty unbelievable,” said Reaber. “I didn’t think we hit as well as we should have. We may have been a little tight offensively, but our defense was very good and Kayla pitched an awesome game. She hit her spots real well and got out of a couple of jams. We had an error early in the game, but she was really good keeping her poise. She had bases loaded and a 3-1 count in one inning and got out of it.”
Reaber’s reasoning for the suicide bunt was simple.
“It’s the seventh inning and we had to get any run we could,” he said. “We wanted to get the run in. We had one out and runners on first and second and we fake bunted and stole both kids. And then we tried the squeeze. Brooklyn got tagged out but the throw was late and Kaitlyn sild in.”
IC Catholic Prep moved to 21-12 with the win. At one point in the season, the Knights were 4-6.
“We’re playing real well right now,” said Reaber. “In this game, we might have been a little light on the offensive end, but we’ve been swinging the bats really well.”
Reaber pointed out the Knights start seven freshmen or sophomores. “We have a junior in Josie and one senior in Kaitlyn Falduto,” he said. “The rest are freshmen and sophomores. A lot of it could have been nerves, but they played very well. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Reaber said early in the year he was toggling with lineups to try and get the best possible combination for the Knights.
“Early in the year we had some losses. We wanted to see what the best lineup was,” he said. “Brooklyn Campos had played five positions this year. She’s also only 14 years old playing against 18 and 19-year-olds. That’s a big deal.”
The Knights have freshmen Alessandra Eccardt (1B) and Campos (3B) at the corners with sophomore Natalie Murillo at second base and Falduto at shortstop. Lytton is a junior behind the plate, while Faber-Cournane is a sophomore. IC Catholic Prep’s outfield features freshman Dani Murillo in left, sophomore Kayla Cervantes in center and freshman Emma Lytton in right.
“They are so young, but they have played so well,” said Reaber. “We’ve been to the supersectional two years ago and now this year. We can’t complain. Only eight teams are left in Class 2A and we are one of them.”
The Knights, who beat conference power Glenbard South for the first time in Reaber’s tenure this year, did not allow a run in their first four playoff games. IC Catholic Prep downed Willows Academy 10-0 in the regional semifinals and beat Regina 7-0 for the regional title. IC Catholic Prep defeated Chicago Latin School 18-0 in the sectional semifinals.
“Nobody has scored a run on us in the playoffs so far. That’s unbelievable and we’ve done it with two pitchers (Faber-Cournane and Falduto),” said Reaber.
