By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The Trinity Christian softball team finished second in the nation in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series.
The Trolls lost to Concordia (Michigan), 8-1, in the title game May 18 at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. They finished 25-20 and won the second most games in a single season in program history.
This was Trinity’s third trip to the NCCAA World Series and first appearance in the championship game. It was also the Trolls’ first winning season since 1992.
“This team had made history and set the bar,” Trinity coach Amanda Fazarri said. “We are proud to have ended the season with a winning record and to be the first to finish in a championship game.
“We’re eager to build on these experiences in future years as we continue to build. The seniors have laid down the foundation and have been a pivotal part of our success.”
Pitchers Myleigh Halmon and Katie Lorscheider were named to the All-Tournament team.
Area players on the team were seniors Angela Abrand (Richards) and Erin Curtin (Marist), and junior Faith Bruinius (Stagg).
The Trolls baseball team also qualified for the World Series, and through May 21 had gone 2-1 in the double-elimination tournament, which is also held at Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City.
Trinity lost to Fort Lauderdale, 9-6, but recovered to beat Toccoa Falls (Georgia), 8-2, and Dallas Christian, 5-3. Hunter Slaats scored three of the team’s five runs in the win over Dallas.
Cougars teams fall in nationals
The Saint Xavier baseball and softball teams did not advance past their respective NAIA National Opening Round tournaments.
But the softball team gave the No. 1 team in the nation everything it had.
The Oregon Institute of Technology, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll, needed a run in the bottom of the seventh to knock the Cougars in the first round of the double-elimination tournament with a 4-3 victory on May 15 at Stillwell Stadium in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
After the Cougars fought their way back into the championship bracket, they needed to knock off Oregon twice. They won the first game, 3-0, on May 17 but dropped the second game, 5-2.
In the first game, junior pitcher Laila Summers, a Providence graduate, threw her sixth shutout of the season. It was the first time the Owls were shut out in 2023.
It was also the first time the Cougars knocked off the No. 1-ranked team in the nation since beating Oklahoma City, 1-0, on May 30, 2016.
Marist graduate Kaitlyn Wright doubled in the second game for the Cougars (37-14). Despite losing by three runs, the Cougars had the tying run at the plate with two out in the top of the seventh, but the rally stalled on a groundout.
Meanwhile, the baseball team went 0-2 in the Opening Round tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia, losing a 6-5, in an eight-inning heartbreaker to Midway University on May 15, and then dropping a 10-3 decision to Concordia (Nebraska) the next day.
Mount Carmel graduate Kevin Dowling had two hits in the first loss while Evergreen Park alum Declan Smyth doubled in the second game for the Cougars, who finished 31-26.
Red Hot Knights
While the IHSA baseball postseason is rolling in Class 3A and Class 4A this week, the smaller schools got a jump on the playoffs last week and Chicago Christian won its own Class 2A regional title.
The Knights opened with a 20-0 victory over Chicago Intrinsic Charter on May 17 and followed it up with a 15-0 championship victory over Farragut. It’s the Knights’ 19th regional championship.
Chicago Christian, Reed-Custer, defending Class 2A champion Joliet Catholic Academy and Leo were the final four teams left in the Joliet Catholic Sectional, which begins May 24. The title game is May 27.