Attack plan for Angels works well in run to state

When the Joliet Catholic softball team was moved to the Class 2A classification for the postseason after previously competing in the Class 3A grouping, the Angels coaching staff didn’t elect to build a schedule that would give them familiarity with their new postseason opponents.

Instead, they built a schedule that was littered with much larger competition including two of the state finalists in Class 4A and multiple other schools with a great pedigree with the thought being that such a schedule would prepare them for anything Class 2A might throw at them and then some.

And while some of the results weren’t pretty during the regular season that saw the Angels finish the regular season with a record of 17-8, the blueprint that it attempted to provide for the postseason seemed to have worked like a charm.

Although it took a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over Port Byron Riverdale in the Super-Sectional to assure the Angels (23-8) place in Wednesday’s Class 2A State Tournament where they will open with a semifinal matchup with Tolono Unity (25-2) at 12:30 p.m., JCA’s other postseason results have been nothing short of amazing as they outscored opponents 58-1 through the regional and sectional rounds.

Joliet Catholic’s robust offense has produced considerably down the stretch with a balanced lineup that gets contributions from a multitude of players.

Wrigley Fanter leads the Angels in both batting average (.394) and runs batted in (31), closely followed by Morgan Bruno (.392 and 30). And while that dynamic duo is responsible for a significant portion of Joliet Catholic’s offensive productivity, others are capable of chipping into the cause. Six different Angels players have connected for at least one home run.

Andie Broniewicz will do the work for Joliet Catholic from the circle. She’s been fantastic in the postseason and still managed to compile a season ERA of 1.32 against a schedule of elite opponents.

JCA’s semifinal opponent, Tolono Unity, slugged its way into the postseason scoring a late flurry of runs in its super-sectional win over Normal University to advance.

The Rockets have three regular hitters above the .400 threshold on the season with dual threat pitcher Taylor Henry leading the way with a .437 batting average, six homers and 31 RBIs. Madeline Reed enters the semifinal hitting at a .418 average and leads the team with seven home runs. Grace Renfrow is the team’s third .400-plus hitter at .403.

Henry has sound pitching stats as well with 177 strikeouts in 113 innings of work. She possesses a 14-2 regular season mark with a 1.86 earned run average.

The opposite side of the bracket features undefeated and odds-on tournament favorite Rockridge challenges who enters the game with a 27-0 mark against Massac County (24-2). The tournament will be conducted in a one-day format this season. After the semifinals early in the day, the teams will return to the field today at 4 p.m. for the third place game or 5 p.m. for the state championship clash.

Whatever happens, Joliet Catholic will at the very least equal the school’s best ever performance at the state tournament in softball. JCA’s last appearance, when the school was known as St. Francis, netted the school a fourth place finish in 1988 Class AA Tournament. Two other appearances (1982 and 1986) saw the school fail to advance out of the quarterfinal round.