Hilltoppers Close Out Conference Play With A Victory

Wednesday was Senior Day at Glenbard West, and the Hilltoppers’ softball team had eight seniors in its starting lineup against York.

Those seniors figured prominently in Glenbard West’s 5-1 victory over the Dukes—a game that also was the final West Suburban Silver contest of 2011 for both squads.

-- Taylor Steinhilber pitched a four-hitter and delivered a two-out double in the sixth inning that plated two runs.

-- First baseman Dayle Comerford contributed two hits, including an RBI triple in the first inning, which tied the game 1-1.

-- Right-fielder Emily Rooney had two hits, drove in one run and scored another.

-- Haley Cappozzo got the start in left field and singled in the sixth.

-- Second baseman Michelle Waggoner singled and scored two runs.

“In our starting lineup usually six of the seven are [senior] starters,” Glenbard West coach Mary McGrane said. “It was a regular game for them, but it was nice that Haley got to come in, play left field and got a base hit.”

The Hilltoppers' victory not only avenged an earlier-season loss to York, it prevented the Dukes from grabbing a share of the West Suburban Silver title with Downers North. The Trojans captured the WSS crown outright (their second consecutive league title), while the Dukes finished second and the Hilltoppers (9-3) third.

Steinhilber (six strikeouts, one walk) got into a bit of a jam in the second inning after Glenbard West (22-6) tied the game 1-1. She struck out the first two York hitters, but then gave up consecutive singles and a walk to load the bases. However, Steinhilber, who threw 35 pitches in the inning, escaped without any damage when York leadoff hitter Gracie Sullivan rolled into an inning-ending groundout.

“I thought our kids battled back,” McGrane said. “The first time we played them wasn’t one of our better games (Glenbard West lost 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh). But Taylor pitched that game, too, and I thought she came out this time and had better control and better command. She set the tone, even getting out of that jam with the bases loaded and two outs showed a lot of character from her.”

Glenbard West took the lead for good in the second inning. Michelle Waggoner led off with a walk and later scored on Rooney’s infield hit.

Waggoner also got things started in the Hilltoppers’ three-run sixth with a single (she scored on a wild pitch). Rooney and Bri Wyatt, who was intentionally walked, both came home on Steinhilber’s double down the left-field line.

The Hilltoppers conclude their regular season with non-conference games Friday and Saturday. They host Downers South on Friday and visit Naperville North on Saturday.

Saturday’s matchup is Glenbard West’s final tune-up before its regional opener next Wednesday. The Hilltoppers are in the Proviso West regional and will face the winner of Monday’s Proviso West-Geneva game.

“We’ll continue to work,” McGrane said. “Coach Karen and I will continue to work them hard and teach. It’s one of those things that we’ve played a lot of games and you hope that they just go out there and leave it all on the field. That’s what we’re going to continue to stress. Play hard every single inning, every single out. No freebies and no regrets. It’s kind of our motto.”