Last season, the Triton College softball had to win three games out of the loser's bracket in one day to claim their first Region 4 Championship since 1988 in dramatic fashion. This time around there was very little suspense as the No. 1 seeded Trojans dominated the field. Triton won all three games played in the double-elimination round, including an impressive 12-1 win in the championship game May 15 in Freeport, Ill over Sauk Valley Community College to repeat as regional champions.
The victory secured Triton (49-7) an automatic bid at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament held May 24-28 in Oxford, Ala. The Trojans will learn their opening round opponent when the NJCAA releases the tournament pairings this Friday.
"It was less stressful this year (at the regional tournament) because we worked hard to get back to where we wanted to be and that was another trip to Alabama and the national tournament," said Trojans head coach
Christina Christopher, who was named Region 4 Coach of the Year following the win.
Triton jumped out the gate strong in their half of the first inning with five runs.
Carissa Bombardiere singled to open the frame followed by a
Melissa Gonzalez double to put runners at second and third. That set up
Katlyn Cherry for her first big hit of the afternoon, a two-run triple to put the Trojans on the board.
Then Oak Park graduate
Lucy Goodwin blasted a two-run home run over the fence in left to make it 4-0.
Samanta Nelson would cap the inning with and RBI single to plate home
Julianna Acevedo.
"We did not want to have a repeat of what happened last year at the regional tournament and came out hyped up from the start," said Christopher. "I also give credit to our sophomores who helped our freshman prepare for the importance of this game. We knew we could come out and dominate."
The early run support was more than plenty for Triton ace
Alyssa Stramaglia. The sophomore improved her mark to 23-2, going the distance, including 13 strikeouts. Stramaglia gave up just a single run, a SkyHawk solo homer in the fourth.
"I can always count on Alyssa," said Christopher. "She knew what was at stake and threw another great game."
For the game, the Triton offense went deep four times.
Alexis Maldonado's solo shot in the third gave the Trojans a 6-0 advantage. Then in a five-run sixth Cherry and Goodwin went back-to-back. Cherry's bomb, a three-run homer put Triton ahead 10-1. In the title game, Cherry went 3-for-4 with five RBI's. Goodwin was 2-for-4 with four RBI's.
Now Trojans look ahead to the national tournament, as Christopher wants her squad to be playing Memorial Day weekend after losing both games a year ago.
"Hopefully, this time we can go there and make a deep run in the tournament and put ourselves in position to win the national championship,"
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